The Ministry of Tourism, in cooperation with the National Committee for the Management and Development of Community-Based Tourism and Ecotourism and other relevant institutions, will stage the 4th National Ecotourism Forum at the Sokha Siem Reap Hotel from November 24-25.
According to a November 17 ministry announcement, the forum is a major annual event for the ecotourism and community-based tourism sectors. It will bring together participants from all relevant stakeholders, including the public and private sectors, national and international organisations, development partners and community-based tourism and ecotourism groups from across the Kingdom.
“The forum serves as a platform for all actors to exchange ideas, review achievements, discuss challenges, and propose practical solutions and strategies in a spirit of sharing, participation and joint responsibility for the development of ecotourism and community-based tourism in Cambodia. In addition, the forum will also feature a community tourism and ecotourism exhibition,” it said.
The ministry called on the public, tourism associations, community-based and ecotourism communities, tourism operators, private sector partners, national and international NGOs, development partners and all relevant stakeholders, who are interested or wish to share the results of the work and research findings, to participate.
Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), told The Post on November 18 that the annual event plays an important role in showcasing tourism products and strengthening networking within Cambodia’s tourism sector.
“It is very important because besides promoting tourism products, it also helps create networks among stakeholders in the tourism sector. In recent years, I have observed that the government has widely promoted the products of ecotourism communities. Through this forum, tourism package development is also possible,” he said.
Recently, ecotourism communities throughout Cambodia have been extensively promoted.
One notable example is the Borei O’Svay–Sen Chey community-based tourism site, which features natural flooded forests and historical locations in Borei O’Svay Sen Chey district, Stung Treng province, and has been attracting many tourists.
The Borei O’Svay–Sen Chey ecotourism community boasts beautiful scenery, white sand beaches, bird habitats, endangered fish species and rich biodiversity. It is located within a ramsar site, which has significant tourism potential thanks to its many islands, such as Koh Han, Koh Thmor Kambor, Koh Sar Khon, Koh Tonsay and Koh Puthau. These areas are rich in natural landscapes and continue to attract tourists to explore the Mekong River and learn about local historical stories.
The community includes around 16 community forests along the Mekong River. The Borei O’Svay Memorial Stupa has become another notable attraction for tourists. The memorial stupa was built from 1963 to 1967 under a royal initiative to protect the territorial integrity of the northern border adjacent to Laos.
