by Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai
According to Cambodia media sources, the highly promoted 3rd World Ecotourism Conference (WEC2011) opened in Sihanoukville , aimed at developing the Asia Pacific region as a leading ecotourism destination.
The three-day conference, under the theme “Charting the Future of Ecotourism in Asia,” has attracted some 300 governmental officials, tourism ministers, deputy ministers, ecotourism specialists, businessmen, representatives from national and international ecotourism associations and communities from 23 countries, mostly in the Asia Pacific region.

“The conference will be a good opportunity to establish and boost relationship and co-operation on the development of ecotourism in the region in a sustainable and responsible manner,” said Cambodian Minister of Tourism Dr. Thong Khon at the opening ceremony.

“Also, it’s time to exchange the best experience and practice related to the ecotourism development in order to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of natural and environmental conservation. In the future, we want to make the Asia Pacific become a leading attraction for the development and investment in ecotourism,” he added.

The minister said that at the end of the conference, there would be the “Sihanoukville Declaration on Multilateral Co-operation for Ecotourism Development.”

The declaration would be submitted to the United Nations World Tourism Organization for the final approval.
“The declaration would be a roadmap for the ecotourism development in a sustainable and responsible manner in the whole Asia, particularly in Cambodia,” he explained.
During the conference, there will be also an ecotourism exhibition with the participation of ecotourism communities and private investors in ecotourism with 23 booths.

Preah Sihanouk is a coastal province in southwestern Cambodia. It’s the country’s third most popular tourism destination after Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.