(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Tourism Minister Huot Hak stated that the sustainable development of community-based tourism and ecotourism requires a strong Public-Private-Community Partnership that unites the government, private sector, local communities, and development partners.

The minister presided over the National Workshop on Experience Sharing among Community-Based Tourism and Ecotourism Communities from across Cambodia on Tuesday (Jul. 7). Held at Sokha Residence Phnom Penh Hotel, the workshop brought together approximately 400 participants.

“The sustainable development of community-based tourism and ecotourism cannot be achieved by any single stakeholder alone. It requires a strong Public-Private-Community Partnership, bringing together the government, the private sector, local communities, and development partners to build a resilient tourism ecosystem, strengthen tourism value chains, and ensure that economic benefits reach local communities directly. This will help improve livelihoods, reduce poverty and migration, prevent natural resource encroachment and illegal activities, and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," said the minister.

The workshop served as a platform for participants to exchange knowledge and best practices, identify strengths, opportunities, and challenges, share perspectives, and formulate practical recommendations and solutions aimed at further strengthening the development of community-based tourism and ecotourism in a manner that is high-quality, sustainable, and inclusive.

The workshop also sought to attract more domestic and international visitors to community destinations, thereby maximizing economic benefits for local people through fair, transparent, accountable, and inclusive benefit-sharing mechanisms in line with the principles of sustainable development.
=FRESH NEWS