Pailin City has become a “Smoke-Free Tourist City”, a distinction officially recognised by the Ministry of Tourism. The official announcement was made on November 26 by tourism minister Huot Hak, together with Marianna Trias, WHO representative in Cambodia.
According to the tourism ministry, the recognition follows an evaluation of the implementation of smoke-free environments within the tourism sector. The award is also recognised by the Smoke-Free Cities Asia Pacific Network (SCAN), the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) and the WHO.
Hak noted that Pailin provincial authorities have worked hard to improve public infrastructure, decorate the city and add aesthetic green belts to the urban surrounds, in order to attract an increasing number of domestic and international guests.
“All of these efforts contribute to boosting economic growth and improving the livelihoods of the people in the province,” he said.
“Pailin is not only famous as a land of gems, but it is also a province with a distinct tangible and intangible cultural identity, featuring the Pailin Peacock Dance and Pailin Longan crops. It is also a destination for nature tourism, ecotourism, agrotourism and the Phnom Yat Natural Heritage Area,” he added.
He noted that tourists often aspire to visit and experience the province firsthand; in particular, they wish to see with their own eyes the landscapes and beauty of Pailin, which have been described and detailed by poets and authors in numerous songs and novels.
