An eco-tourism site in Cambodia (Source: Internet)Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Cambodian governmentrecently announced its strategy to boost ecotourism in a bid to increase statebudget collection, improve livelihoods of rural people, and protect thecountry’s natural resources.
At the launching ceremony for the 2019-2030 Ecotourism Policy, Tourism MinisterThong Khon said Cambodia has about 2,300 rural communities, most of themdedicated to agriculture, fisheries and forestry, while there are only 123service providers in the nation.
The ministries of Tourism, Environment, and Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheriesare working together to develop these communities into tourism sites based on assessmentof each locality’s strength and potential, he said, adding the localities willbenefit from plan to branch out tourism infrastructure and human resources toserve ecotourism development.
Meanwhile, President of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agent Chhay Sivlin saidnew tourism products like ecotourism sites will help visitors to the nationhave more fascinating experience.
Cambodia welcomed 4.8 million foreign tourists in the first nine months of theyear, a year-on-year surge of 10 percent.
At the same time, ecotourism sites attracted 62,195 foreigners, up 9 percentfrom the same period last year./.
VNA
