by Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai

Cambodia expects to include its coastal areas in the “Club of the World’s, Kampot and Kep to list with the “Club” in early May this year during the Club’s 6th world congress at Halong Bay, Vietnam. “Natural resources at our coastal lines have been preserved well, so we hope our coastal areas will be listed among the world’s most beautiful bays next year at the 7th annual meeting of the Club,” Dr. Thong Khon was quoted as saying. “When Cambodia gains the status, it would help to attract more tourists to the areas, which are a potential to develop the nation’s economy.”

Cambodia’s coastal areas are the second most popular destination for tourists after Angkor Wat in Siem Reap Province. Cambodia received 2.16 million foreign tourists last year, but only 7% or 154,500 visited the
coastal areas. According to the Club’s criteria, to be listed as one of the world’s most beautiful bays, a bay must be under the protection project, an attractive natural area, recognized both on local and regional levels, as well as a potential for economy development and recognized by UNESCO.

Advantages received from the membership is information exchanges and the promotion of the potential of the coastal areas on international market. Ang Kim Eang, President of the Cambodian Association on Travel Agents (CATA), was quoted as saying that if Cambodia’s coastline was recognized by the Club, the country would be able to increase tourist numbers by 50 percent over the next five years. The “Club” was established in March 1997 at Berlin in Germany and so far counts 22 countries as members with some 30 bays being recognized as the world’s most beautiful bays.