Illustrative image (Source: khmertimeskh.com) Hanoi (VNA) – The CambodianMinistry of Tourism is working to transform its southern province of Kep into atourism hub that meets regional and international standards.
Ny Phally, the ministry’s undersecretary ofstate, said a masterplan on the transformation is progressing and theministry is confident that it will turn the province into a high-endeco-tourism and relaxation place in the region and the world, the Khmer Timesreported.
The Cambodian Government has established an inter-ministrycommittee to study the development scheme since the start of 2020.
The draft planis set to be finalised at the end of July and adopted in August so that it willbe materialised from 2021 to 2035, Phally said.
Ken Satha,Governor of Kep province, said during a press conference on May 5 that the localityhas 13 islands which have yet to be fully tapped.
“Most of the islands in Kep are still onlydeveloped by local communities and not by investors because the government doesnot allow any manufacturing investment in the province yet, so we have muchmore potential and room to grow in the tourism sector,” Satha was quoted by thenewspaper as saying.
According to the Ministry of Tourism, foreign arrivals to Cambodia hit 1.15 million in the first quarter ofthis year, down 38 percent year-on-year due to the impacts of COVID-19.
In particular, those from China were down 62percent, the US 33 percent and the Republic of Korea 36 percent.
The ministry also reported that domesticholidaymakers dropped by 34 percent during the period.
Cambodia will prioritise domestic tourism nowas the government has lifted a travel ban between provinces, said Tourism Minister Thong Khon./.
VNA
