The first annual Tonle Sap Ecotourism Network Forum, themed “Strengthening Tourism and Ecotourism Services Towards Improving Community Livelihoods and Sustainable Management of Tonle Sap Lake Natural Resources,” kicked off on Thursday.
Presiding over the forum, Mr. Sok Soken, Minister of Tourism, said that Tonle Sap Lake has great potential for community tourism and ecotourism, which will help Cambodia diversify its tourism products for domestic and international visitors.
The forum was attended by stakeholders from the public and private sectors, partner NGOs, local authorities and communities around the Tonle Sap region, as well as other stakeholders.
Mr. Sok Soken, who is also the Chairman of the National Committee for the Management and Development of Community Tourism and Ecotourism, said that the development of ecotourism and community tourism is an appropriate mechanism for the effective development and conservation of natural resources in protected areas, providing opportunities for local people to actively participate in decision-making and directly benefit from tourism, especially in terms of participating in local development and reducing poverty and migration.
He highly appreciated the cooperation between the Secretariat of the National Committee and relevant partners, especially the Fisheries Alliance for Conservation of Cambodia (FACT) and all development partners, including the European Union and Oxfam Cambodia, for supporting the Tonle Sap Ecotourism Network (TEN).
He said, “I firmly believe that TEN has been playing an important role in effectively developing and preserving the Tonle Sap tourism community and ecotourism in line with the National Ecotourism Policy 2019-2030.”
The 7th Royal Government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, continues to maintain peace, social stability, peace, complete order and development in all sectors.
He continued that peace has ensured Cambodia’s tourism sector, which is considered “green gold” by the Royal Government.
It has achieved positive growth every year, contributing nearly 13 percent to the gross domestic product and providing many jobs, both directly and indirectly, to the people.
He highlighted, “At the same time, the 7th Royal Government has launched the first phase of the Pentagon Strategy, which considers tourism as a priority sector for economic growth. This strategy clearly demonstrates the Royal Government’s efforts to further promote tourism.”
He expressed support for organizing the Tonle Sap Ecotourism Network Forum annually. He also supported similar forums for five other national priority ecotourism areas, including the Preah Bat Jayavarman-Norodom Phnom Kulen National Park ecotourism area, the Phnom Karvanh ecotourism area, the coastal ecotourism area, the Prey Lang ecotourism area, and the Northeast ecotourism area.
Mr. Yuk Senglong, Executive Director of the Fisheries Alliance for Conservation of Resources (FACT) and Permanent Vice-Chairman of the Tonle Sap Ecotourism Network, highlighted the main objective of the first annual forum, saying that it provides an opportunity for stakeholders to develop relationships between national and international public institutions, organizations, and the private sector, creating opportunities for the sale and use of community-based tourism/ecotourism products and services.
“The first annual forum will be an opportunity to showcase Cambodia’s ecotourism destinations on the international stage, benefiting from the participation and inspiration of many national and international development partners,” Lo said.
The forum is expected to strengthen cooperation between key stakeholders, raise awareness of sustainable ecotourism initiatives, and enable local communities to actively participate in ecotourism development projects in the Tonle Sap region.
