Cambodia unveils strategy to develop ecotourism

Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Cambodian government recently announced its strategy to boost ecotourism in a bid to increase state budget collection, improve livelihoods of rural people, and protect the country’s natural resources.

At the launching ceremony for the 2019-2030 Ecotourism Policy, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said Cambodia has about 2,300 rural communities, most of them dedicated to agriculture, fisheries and forestry, while there are only 123 service providers in the nation.

The ministries of Tourism, Environment, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are working together to develop these communities into tourism sites based on assessment of each locality’s strength and potential, he said, adding the localities will benefit from plan to branch out tourism infrastructure and human resources to serve ecotourism development.

Meanwhile, President of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agent Chhay Sivlin said new tourism products like ecotourism sites will help visitors to the nation have more fascinating experience.

Cambodia welcomed 4.8 million foreign tourists in the first nine months of the year, a year-on-year surge of 10 percent.

At the same time, ecotourism sites attracted 62,195 foreigners, up 9 percent from the same period last year./.