#Cambodia - Kep tourism to receive facelift as two islands are pegged for development

 Kep provincial officials are planning to improve 1,800m of shoreline and develop two islands which are less than 10km from the coast.

 The government is studying the development of the beach in Kep province, in southwestern Cambodia, to assess its tourism potential.

Kep province is a coastal area located more than 175km from Phnom Penh and the government believes it has tourism potential thanks to its beaches, national parks, mangrove forests, corals and seagrass.

Kep provincial Department of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction director Vao Sokha told The Post on Thursday that his team is studying improvements to the nearly 3,000m Kep Beach to turn it into a public beach to attract more tourists.

Upgrades will be developed from the Crab Market to the mangrove community area in Prey Thom commune, in Kep town.

“We have already designed the beach and are studying the socio-environmental impacts on the communities living along the coast,” he said.

Kep province now has only one official beach with a length of 350m, and it is yet to meet the needs of tourists. He said the beach is too narrow and needs to be upgraded, including road construction.

The government is studying improvements to another 1,800m of the beach from Kep beach to the Vietnamese coast. “Kep province has great potential for tourism. If we do not develop it, how can we attract tourists?” Sokha asked.

In addition to the coastal area, Kep province has 13 archipelagos that are attractive natural tourist sites. Two of the islands have been granted by the government to a private development company – Koh Tonsay Island (also known as Rabbit Island) and Por Island.

Koh Tonsay Island is a beautiful island that is only 4.5km from Kep beach. Por Island, which lies 7.5km off the coast, has not been developed so far, said Sokha.

At a meeting to prepare the Kep provincial Tourism Development Master Plan in May, Ministry of Economy and Finance undersecretary of state Ni Phally said the master plan would make Kep province an attractive destination for local and global tourism.

“The draft will be completed by the end of July and will be submitted at the Inter-Ministerial Commission meeting in August,” he said.

A Ministry of Tourism report said Kep province welcomed about two million international and domestic tourists last year – up 4.24 per cent from 2018.

Source - Phnom Penh Post

Flights from Cambodia to Thailand not expected until July

Thailand’s move to extend its ban on passenger flights for another month to June 30, citing the need to contain the spread of the corona-virus disease, puts another  dent in Cambodia’s efforts to kick-start its economy and tourism.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand, no passenger flights originating outside the country may land at Thai airports until June 30.

The extended flight ban has led to speculation that the state of emergency decree may also be prolonged beyond May 31, although the number of new Covid-19 cases has remained steady for two weeks, even falling to zero on two days this week.

Currently, several international airlines have resumed flights, albeit on a lesser frequency such as Korean Air and Aseana Air which fly two times a week between Seoul and Cambodia.

China Air and Eva Air all reinstated flight routes into Phnom Penh International Airport at the start of this month.

Other major airlines such as, Qatar Airways, Cathay Pacific, Thai Airways and Emirates are also scheduling for flights to resume to Cambodia in June and July this year, coinciding with their main departure points also planning to reinstate international flight paths.

However, airlines that have decided to restart routes have also implemented strict biosecurity conditions during the flights to follow with reports of passengers having to undergo “on the spot” blood tests, as well as, wearing personal protection wear with staff seen dressed in full bio suits. 

Source - Khmer Times/Bangkok Post

#Cambodia - Former ‘killing caves’ become a sobering tourist destination

Phnom Sampov consists of many mountain caves attracting tourists from around the world. But their natural beauty today contrasts with their grim history as Khmer Rouge-era “killing caves”.

Among them is Pka Sla cave, Chest Pounding cave and the Bat cave, where thousands were killed under the Pol Pot regime, with the bones of victims today kept in a glass stupa for display. 

Guide Soung Sitha accompanies visitors to the historic caves, starting with Laang Teng Kloun (Beautified Room Cave) where he points to a case displaying the clothes of victims: “Here we keep victims’ remains, especially clothes worn by people under the Pol Pot regime. They were well-educated people.” 

Leaving Laang Teng Kloun and visiting nearby Laang Lkoun, visitors are greeted by a large golden Buddha reclining next to a stupa full of bones, while a picture depicting victims being thrown from a cliff down into the dark abyss below, as occurred in the cave during the Khmer Rouge era, sits on the wall. 

Grade 5 student Sok Sonita serves as an amateur local guide for children. She takes time from her studies to tell tourists about the history of the caves.

“I can speak a little English and can tell foreigners about the killing and bludgeoning. This was the place they [Pol Pot’s comrades] hit people from above and let them fall. They were well-educated people. I earn irregular money as some days I get a very small amount or nothing, and some days I earn $10,” she said. 

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Phnom Sampov, 12km west of Battambang, is also the locale for a Homeric Khmer legend in which the machinations of a sentient crocodile were foiled by the stroke of a maiden’s hair.

Mok Sinnara, Battambang provincial tourism department’s former director, told The Post: “The legend goes that Sampov mountain was formed when prince Reach Kol’s sailing junk, carrying dowry in order to marry princess Romsay Sok, was immersed by her crocodile named Athun and became Sailing mountain. 

“The dowry was littered around and became Chicken Cage mountain, Duck Cage mountain and the location where princess Romsay Sok stroked her hair became Romsay Sok mountain. Moreover, when the water went down, Athun’s body became Crocodile mountain. 

“Here at Sampov mountain, where the Romsay Sok temple sits, there are many caves. We think that the Beautified Room Cave is where Romsay Sok dressed up and waited for the prince Reach Kol.”

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But today, it is survivors of the Khmer Rouge era that visit the caves to pay their respects.

“A few months ago, survivors visited the homeland and conducted a Buddhism ceremony to offer deeds for dead people. They cried remembering the things that happened to them,” said Sitha, who is among four guides who work at Sampov mountain. 

Sitha estimates that some 10,000 victims were killed around the mountain, with trucks full of bones transported to museum.

The caves are located at the peak of Phnom Sampov, in Phnom Sampov commune, Banan district along National Road 57. The entire complex is comprised of 12 caves that can be explored.

Source - PhnomPenhPost

Thailand to restore rail link with #Cambodia

Thailand is hoping to resurrect a rail link with Cambodia to improve transport in the Mekong sub-region, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said on Thursday.
The prime minister told visiting Cambodian Interior Minister Sar Kheng that Thailand was looking forward to seeing the tracks connecting the two countries restored to reopen the link through Cambodia to Vietnam.
The State Railway of Thailand was rehabilitating the six kilometres of track from Aranyaprathet station in Sa Kaeo province to the border at Ban Khlong Luek, opposite Poipet town. Work is expected to finish by the end of this year.
Cambodia, meanwhile, is rebuilding the line from Sisophon to Poipet.
The railway connection between Aranyaprathet and Sisophon stopped in the 1970s due to internal conflicts in Cambodia.
Gen Prayut said the train link will help plans to develop special economic zones between the two countries and benefit the Dawei deepsea port in the future.
Sar Kheng is in Bangkok to attend a meeting of Thai and Cambodian governors which runs through Friday to build up cooperation between their border provinces.

Source: BangkokPost

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