Siem Reap, 15 June 2006 — Delegates from over 100 Siem Reap accommodation providers, travel agencies and tour operators gathered in the city today to learn more about the tourism products and services of 11 local non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
The Forum, part of the Stay another Day initiative, was organized by the International Finance Corporation’s Mekong Private Sector Development Facility (MPDF). According to Thy Hourn, tourism project officer for IFC-MPDF, the objectives are to encourage travelers to discover the ‘real’ Cambodia, contribute more to the local economy and develop awareness of the importance of ‘destination friendly tourism’.
“We often hear complaints from tourists that besides visiting temples, they have nothing else to do in Siem Reap. By offering alternatives, we hope to encourage tourists to stay longer than the current average of around 2 days. If we succeed, everybody gains. The tourists gain because they have a chance to get to know Cambodia better. They may also have a chance to contribute towards helping preserve environmental, historic or cultural assets and/or benefit the local community. The hotels, guesthouses and restaurants gain because longer bookings are more profitable. The NGOs gain by earning income that doesn’t depend on donor funding. We also have evidence that a growing number of travelers prefer to choose hotels and guesthouses that are helping the local community in some way.”
Today’s Forum introduces the tourism industry in Siem Reap to “alternative” NGO products they could offer to travelers. These include: enjoying an authentic Khmer sbaek thom (large shadow puppetry) performance in a Siem Reap temple or a nearby village; learning about the menace of landmines and then searching for deactivated ones in a specially constructed garden; taking an eco-tour on the great Tonle Sap Lake to learn about its rich wildlife; attending a concert by some of Cambodia’s best traditional musicians; buying the high quality crafts of disabled artisans and seeing how they are produced; and visiting local children’s centers to see the education and training they provide to disadvantaged children.
According to Kate Lloyd-Williams, Manager of IFC-MPDF’s Tourism Program, Siem Reap has been targeted for this pilot program for several reasons. “First, although hundreds of thousands of tourists visit Seam Reap every year, very little of the profits trickle down to the wider community, and it remains one of Cambodia’s poorest provinces.
“Second the negative consequences of mass tourism are beginning to take their toll. For some major temples experts already express concern that visitors have reached maximum capacity. Water and electricity shortages, water pollution and lack of adequate garbage disposal are all problems acerbated by rapid tourism development.
“Third, IFC-MDPF has well-established relationships with local accommodation providers. In 2003 and 2004, we established web portals for smaller hotels and guest houses in Siem Reap and other the Mekong destinations that have allowed them to market over the Internet for the first time. www.Worldhotel-link.com is now a global network covering 30 destinations. Part of its unique offering is a sustainability rating designed for small accommodation providers, where travelers can give feedback on how well they ‘care for the destination’.”
The Stay another Day Initiative promotes sustainable or ‘destination friendly’ tourism. IFC-MPDF defines this as tourism that preserves the natural environment, historic or cultural assets, and/or helps local people. “Siem Reap, says Lloyd-Williams, “With its natural and cultural beauty, needs not only longer-staying tourists, but also those who want their tourism dollars to make a difference.”
“Unlike many projects intended to promote sustainable tourism, IFC-MPDF’s is business-led. Over the last six months, we have been working with the 11 NGOs that have products and services that would appeal to tourists, helping them to promote these better, and preparing to link them with tourism businesses.”
The NGOs participating in the Stay another Day initiative are the Sangkheum Center for Children, Angkor Hospital for Children, Artisans Angkor, Handicap International – Belgium, Sala Bai Hotel and Restaurant School, Cambodian Living Arts, Osmose, Rehab Craft Cambodia, Cambodian Landmine Museum, Paul Dubrule School of Hotel and Tourism and Krousar Thmey.
During the Forum, participants heard from H.E. Dr. Thong Khon, Secretary of State, Ministry of Tourism, who endorsed this initiative, Mr. Tith Chantha, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Tourism, who spoke about the Government’s strategy and plans to facilitate sustainable tourism development. Attendees also heard from Dr. Joanne Jung-Eun Yoo, Assistant Director - Strategic Intelligence Centre, Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), who gave some insights into Current and Future Tourism Trends in South-East Asia and Cambodia. Mr. Francis Anthony, Vice President, AITEX (Angkor International Tourism Exchange), gave an overview of the importance of AITEX that will take place in Cambodia in December.
Participants also saw a short video on the tourism offerings of the 11 NGOs, received the new “Things to do besides the temples…” booklets to promote the NGOs to customers, and had a chance to visit booths where they could talk to staff from the NGOs.
This initial pilot project will end in February 2007, but over the year, IFC-MPDF will track and evaluate the collaborators to see if both sides benefit. The Facility is launching similar initiatives across Vietnam, Cambodia and Lao PDR.
Thy Hourn noted that in a few months IFC-MPDF plans to expand the promotional booklet to include more destination friendly products and services, including those of NGOs in Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville. “Through this work we hope to play a role in developing commitment to sustainable tourism across the Mekong Region.”
Worldhotel-link (
www.Worldhotel-link.com) is an online travel services network for the developing world. It offers an array of small and interesting accommodation and tours not found on other travel sites. Through a worldwide network of franchise operators in each destination, WHL offers local knowledge and contributes to local incomes. The WHL network also promotes Caring for the Destination - the first traveller-driven sustainable tourism ratings designed with small accommodation providers in mind. WHL is registered in Hong Kong.
