Tourist Information Center of Battambang, Cambodia

of millions bats at the Phnom Sampov Resort

A such amazing view! That the tourists go for watching indefinitely ...

The fascinating scenery of millions bat at the bat cave of Phnom Sampov Natural Resort. It is a beautiful place for visitors to watch the sunset and watch the millions of bats flying out from the cave every evening.

Cambodia's intention is to increase the Flow of Timor-Leste tourists to ASEAN (Phnom Penh): ASEAN has already launched a spirit of revitalizing the ASEAN Internal Tourism Movement after more than two years of the Covid-19 crisis, in which Cambodia has expressed its desire to expand this spirit to Timor-Leste, while the tourists in this country also like to go abroad a lot. Du

Cambodia – Lao – Vietnam Enhance the Recovery of Tourism Sector within the Framework of Cambodia – Lao – Vietnam Development Triangle Area

(Phnom Penh): On May 04th, 2022, His Excellency Thong Rathasak, Director General of Tourism Development and International Cooperation, Representative for the Cambodian side, led the ministry of tourism’s skilled officials to participate in a Meeting of the Working Group for Development Triangle Tourism Development Plan Implementation 2020 – 2025 and Vision for 2030 with Vietnam and Lao sides via video – conference.

As a part in the contribution to the recovery after the Covid-19 crisis, upon the roadmap on Cambodia’s Tourism Rehabilitation 2020 – 2025, in which Cambodia agreed with the meeting’s request by being responsible for leading the 05 core activities include: (1) Sharing the experience in target management, natural and cultural resources conservation, and the developments of the tourism community/community-based ecotourism, and homestays in the development triangle area, (2) Improving the cooperation on training and human resources capacity building towards to ASEAN tourism professional standard by focusing on the hospitality skills to enhance the services quality, (3) Developing marketing strategies and promotion of tourism triangle development to target markets Long Haul Markets, (4) Collaboration to Conserve and Protect Biodiversity and Biosphere Landscape, and (5) Collaboration in response to climate change, disasters and rapid response to floods, hurricanes and possible post-disaster recovery.

The meeting agreed with the opinion of H.E. Thong Rathasak, Director General of Tourism Development and International Cooperation (Representative of Cambodia) on the important work, including: (1) Joint promotion between the three countries to promote the development potential of the development triangle in the international tourism fair, the preparation of videos, logos, and brands to promote the development triangle, especially digital advertising 2022-2025.

(2) Organizing the meeting of the Working Group for Development Triangle Tourism Development Plan Implementation 2020 – 2025 and Vision for 2030 for two times a year in order to summarize the work before reporting to the ASEAN National Tourism Organizations, and the inclusion of the inter-ministerial composition of relevant institutions into the working group to lead the work in a proactive and highly responsible, (3) Organizing the key tourism standards for the development triangle area modeled on the applied ASEAN tourism standards.

(4) Formalization trip for the private sector to study and determine the tourism potentiality in the provinces of the Development Triangle Areas of each country, and the organization of Caravan Tour to go through the three countries and can be connected to the Southern Tourism Corridor, (5) Collaboration to include sports tourism in the action plan of the Tourism Development Plan for the Development Triangle 2020-2025, Vision 2030, such as the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).

Finally, H.E. Director General of Tourism Development and International Cooperation thanked and congratulated Vietnam for successfully hosting this working group meeting and hosting the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi (31st SEA Games in Hanoi).

-Border-Crossing is opened #

Notice! Poipet International Gate and Phnom Dey International Gate will be opened from May 1 for those with passports, border cards, and vaccination cards

(Phnom Penh): Thailand has issued a letter of permission for tourists who travel in and out of the country through two border gates in Sa Kaeo, Banteay Meanchey and Battambang are: The Ban Khlong Luk border crossing, Aranya district; on the Cambodian side, Poipet international gate and Ban Khao Din border crossing, Ban Khlong Hat district; on the Cambodian side, Phnom Dey international gate in Sampov Loun district, Battambang province, but the Covid-19 prevention measures are to be strictly implemented, this is according to the letter of Sa Kaeo Provincial Administration which was informed to the governors of Banteay Meanchey and Battambang provinces on April 30, 2022.

The letter from the Thai side states that entry and exit into Thailand through the "Ban Khlong Leuk" permanent border crossing, Aranya district, Sa Kaeo province, and the "Ban Khao Din" permanent border crossing, Khlong Hat district, Sa Kaeo province, the tourists are required to have a passport or border card (which must be filled out directly at the border gate).

The same letter also stated that foreign entry into Thailand through the two land border crossings is possible under the measures and conditions of disease prevention measures under the provisions of article 9 of the Decree on Public Administration of Management of Covid-19 Disease Situation.
The Thai side added that travel from Thailand through the two land border crossings must be carried out in accordance with the preventive measures, conditions, conditions of duration, and the conditions of the target country. For the control, management, and coordination of the entry and exit operations in Thailand must be under the jurisdiction of:

- Aranyaprathet Customs Officer is the Incident Commander (IC) at the Ban Khlong Leuk border post in Aranya district, Sa Kaeo province.

- Khlong Hat district chief is the incident commander (IC) at the border post in Ban Khao Din, Khlong Hat district, Sa Kaeo province.
However, for Cambodian citizens who are traders in Rong Khloeur market, Aranya district, Sa Kaeo province, the Thai authorities have not yet allowed entry and exit – this permission is only applied to tourists who have a passport, borders cards as well as vaccination cards.

Banteay Meanchey provincial governor Oum Rath told Fresh News this afternoon that the first step; on the Thai side was to allow people to pass through the Poipet international gate for those with passports and border cards, and the next step would be considered for the group of Khmer traders who are selling at Rong Kloeur market.

The ancient house of Grandmother Bun Roeung, Sangkat Wat Kor was constructed in 1920 in the reign of King Sisowath and is 100 years old.

Making a trip to the ancient house is a trip making the tourists unforgettable when visiting there; the tourists are able to see the old houses embedded in the Khmer architecture that survives, such as tools for agriculture, handicrafts, weaving, and fancy housing design in the traditional Khmer style.

In addition, tourists can also learn about the history of this ancient house. The ancient house of Grandmother Bun Roeung is located in Watkor village, Sangkat Watkor, Battambang Municipality, and Battambang province.

The ancient house is about 2 km from the provincial town departing from Battambang Provincial Hall on Road 800, about 1.5 km will reach four intersections, we have to go straight for about 500 meters, and you will reach there.

Cambodia Wants to Cooperate With India in Organizing an Event “Trail of Civilization” to Promote Religious and Cultural Tourism

(Phnom Penh): Cambodia requested Indian Embassy to view the feasibility of organizing an event called “Trail of Civilization” to promote the potentiality of religious and cultural tourism to the tourists who like making religion-linked trips.

The two countries and other countries had already been successful in cooperating to hold this event in the past 2021 but were postponed. The purpose was raised in a talk between H.E. Thong Khon, Cambodian Minister of Tourism, and Mrs. Devyani Uttam Khobragade, Indian Ambassador to Cambodia before the two Memorandums of Understanding were signed, at the office of the ministry of tourism, in the Afternoon of 1st April 2022.

On that occasion, Minister Thong Khon requested Mrs. Devyani Uttam Khobragade to view the feasibility of reorganizing the event of “Trail of Civilization”, which used to be previously successfully held. Then, India and other countries in the Asian region such as Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, and Indonesia used to cooperate with each other in organizing the event of Trail of Civilization, but it was postponed.

The aim of holding the cultural event is to foster Khmer cultures, promote the religious tourism potentiality, and historical and cultural tourism destinations such as Cambodia’s Angkor resort, the Bagan area of Myanmar, and the Borobudur temple in Indonesia. Apart from that, the propagation of Buddhism is also focused on.

In response, Mrs. Ambassador Devyani agreed with the above minister Thong Khon’s request and requested the ministry of tourism’s working group to provide the concept notes in order to make the Indian Embassy do further confirmation to the Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant parties in organizing this event. She believes that the preparation of the event will be possible.

Please be noted that, in past, Indian Embassy had many plans which cooperated with the ministry of tourism such as capacity building training for those serving in the tourism sector, the promotion of mutual tourism, the participation in the tourism, culture, and sports exhibitions, for instance, the International Day of Yoga, and in the future, India will contribute to implementing the three Quick Impact Project with Cambodian Ministry of Tourism is at the Boeung Sneh Bird Sanctuary, Prey Veng province, Phat Sanday Ecotourism Area, Kampong Thom province, along with the organization of a mobile app to promote tourism and ecotourism communities throughout Cambodia.

The capital of Phnom Penh Will Have Preparation of Culture, Tourism, and Sports Exhibition at Morodok Techo Stadium from 06 – 10 April

(Phnom Penh): As the entertainment programs in the provinces are being organized in the congratulation on the approaching Khmer New Year Day, the Culture, Tourism and Sports Exhibition will also be held in the Morodok Techo Stadium, which will last 5 days from the upcoming 06 – 10 April 2022, although there is no Sankranti event like in previous years.
The exhibition arrangement is to congratulate the Khmer New Year, to promote Khmer cultures and customs, and tourism products, or to demonstrate the reputation of an immense National Stadium, which is not only used for the organization of the main sports events but is also a site, where the organization of the culture and tourism exhibition and other entertainment programs are celebrated.

The programs in the Culture, Tourism and Sports Exhibition include the products exhibition, the traditional dance performance, the mixed Khmer traditional games, Khmer traditional song, and dance program, and Khmer martial arts performance program, Tik Tok contesting program, and the song, dance, and Guru dance competition program, the medieval Miss contest, etc., which will take place at different times and hours throughout the 5 days.

The exhibition program is organized by the partnering company of KHBN, in collaboration with Morodok Techo National Stadium, Phnom Penh Administration, Ministry of Tourism, and relevant ministries – institutions, as the official opening ceremony will be conducted under the presidency of His Excellency Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism.

The minister stated that “Culture, Tourism and Sports Exhibition will become an important tourism product in providing tourists and people residing in the capital of Phnom Penh and from other provinces entertainment”.
Minister Thong Khon stressed that the location of Morodok Techo National Stadium is the most favorable site for organizing events, at that site; there are both Win-Win Palace and Safari Zoo, which are all major tourist attractions.

Minister Thong Khon, along with representatives of partner companies organizing the KHBN event also called for the people, tourists as well as the general public to take part in the Culture, Tourism, and Sports Exhibition.

Based on the minister Thong Khon, besides the Culture, Tourism, and Sports Exhibition in the Morodok Techo National Stadium, at the capital of Phnom Penh, in the Siem Reap, Kampong Chhnang, and other provinces and cities, there are also Sankranti events or other entertainment programs are arranged - based on the abilities of respective authorities.

Inclusion of Tourism Activities and Ecotourism into Potential Communities Has Really Provided a Lot of Benefits to Local Communities

(Phnom Penh): The inclusion of tourism activities and ecotourism into the potential enjoying communities has much benefited to the local communities such as jobs creation, income generation, reduction of immigration, and direct development, according to the confirmation by the National Committee for Managing and Developing Tourism Community and Ecotourism.

The confirmation came in the 1st Meeting of the National Committee for Managing and Developing Tourism Community and Ecotourism, on March 31, 2022, at the office of the ministry of tourism, and via Zoom, presided over by His Excellency Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and President of the National Committee for Managing and Developing Tourism Community and Ecotourism, His Excellency Say Sam Al, Minister of Environment and Permanent President of the National Committee for Managing and Developing Tourism Community and Ecotourism and His Excellency Veng Sakhon, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Vice President of the National Committee for Managing and Developing Tourism Community and Ecotourism.

All managements of the National Committee for Managing and Developing Tourism Community and Ecotourism have seen that the inclusion of tourism activities and ecotourism into the potential existing communities has provided a lot of benefits such as jobs creation, income generation, and direct local development, no matter what ministries the communities are under.

The Minister Thong Khon, President of the National Committee for Managing and Developing Tourism Community and Ecotourism, said that more and more people and internal tourists are making trips to the tourism communities and community-based ecotourism and many other adventure tourism areas which have generated direct incomes to the community people and are making the tourism communities and community-based ecotourism sectors resilient to the crisis, contributed to sustaining tourism sector a whole.

Minister Thong khon highlighted that the main ecotourism areas such as khnang Phsar Area, Oral Mountain, Kirirom, Chipat, Areng, Peam Krasop, Sre Sre Ambel, Veal Thom, Samlot, Phnom Tbeng, Samuth Cheu, Ramsar site, Tonle Sap Lake, Phnom Kulen, and many other ecotourism sites are gaining remarkable internal tourist growths in the stage of Covid-19 crisis in the last 2020 and 2021.

The minister added that Cambodia has been internationally recognized for the works of community and ecotourism throughout the implementation of the tourism community development model in the form of public–private– people partnerships (4Ps) inspiring the small – medium and large investments that require to have local people engagement, empowering to community people, providing maximum benefits to the local and in compliance with sustainable and responsible guidelines, inconsistent with the concept “Conservation Serves for Development and Development Serves for Conservation”, and in line with the principle of the equitable profit-sharing model.

The Minister of Agriculture showed satisfaction when the agricultural communities, fisheries communities, fishing communities, and forest protection communities are included in tourism activities and ecotourism, and the minister herself, as well as subordinate units under the Ministry of Agriculture, are also actively involved in helping to organize, support and cooperate with the community.

Minister of Environment Say Sam Al also said that the inclusion of tourism activities and ecotourism into the potential existing communities not only helps develop local economy but also assists in the works of the natural resources conservation, tangible and intangible cultural heritages.

The Minister of Environment has supported the concept “Tourism Connects with Land”, which minister Thong Khon has always actively urged reminding a slogan “Love Nation Must Know the Land” because this is what Cambodian youths are to know clearly about their land as much as possible.

For the continuing implementation directions of the National Committee for Managing and Developing Tourism Community and Ecotourism, the meeting agreed to put in effect the major plans of action as follows:

• The secretariat is to continue implementing the released plans in the National Policy on Ecotourism (2019 – 2030), annually plans of action of the secretariat, and other released plans by the management of the National Committee for Managing and Developing Tourism Community and Ecotourism.

• Support the initiative in creating ecotourism youth networks which are under the mechanisms of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia or under any appropriate form.

• Continue cooperation with the Indian Embassy to Cambodia, especially the implementation of the quick impact projects at the Boeung Sneh Bird Sanctuary in Prey Veng province and Phat Sanday Ecotourism Area in Kampong Thom province, along with the Mobile App for the community.

• Agree on the initiative in creating (Tonle Sap Ecotourism Network –TEN).

• Try to well organize Ecotourism Forum on 18th November 2020.

• Try to research and determine rapid areas and ecotourism destinations to make it easy for developing a formula (4Ps).

• The capital – provincial level - National Committee for Managing and Developing Tourism Community and Ecotourism are to try to study, research and determine the suspected areas of having mines or unexploded ordnances to report to Cambodian Mine Action Center (via Secretariat) to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war.

• Continue to cooperate with Khmer Enterprise to promote the development of tourism and ecotourism communities in the five provinces as defined in the Memorandum of Understanding.

• Continue to organize a video competition program on tourism community and ecotourism under the theme "Treasures of community and tourism camps", season 4 of 2022, the distribution ceremony is planned to be held on the occasion of the 3rd National Forum on Ecotourism.

• The Secretariat shall prepare a form to recognize community-based tourism and ecotourism at the request of the NCMD at the capital-provincial levels.

• Promote resolution at the request of the Cambodian Mine Action Center to identify priority locations in the tourism and ecotourism community to clear landmines and explosive remnants of war.
• Arrange for a visit by the management and members of NCMD to grasp the needs and requests of the actual community.

• Continue to make efforts in researching and promoting the development of tourism and ecotourism activities in potential communities through the organization of visits by NCMD leaders to those areas to encourage and address challenges, to organize training, to outreach and capacity building for community members.

-Based Ecotourism

The O Choam Community-Based Ecotourism is located in O Choam Leu village, Kampong La Pov commune, Samlot district, Battambang province, distanced about 100 km from the provincial town of Battambang.
The O Choam Community–Based Ecotourism is a potential natural tourism site. There, there is a mixture of large trees, providing great shade and fresh air. The waterfall which flows down from the top of the hill is sourced from a huge lake with the size of about 2 hectares on the top of the hill, called Tonle Phen by the locals, go through the flexible and multi-stages huge rocks, making the water very clear and cool as Amrit water. A favorable location provides a great environment for the living of fish and a variety of birds to be looked at. A high hill in conjunction with freshly blue colored - grass and plants have increased the power for tourists visiting there. The O Choam Community-Based Eco-tourism has provided plenty of services to tourists such as accommodation services, food and beverage services, and community tour guide service. So, all tourists do not need to be concerned about the shortage.

Entertaining activities in the community are:

- Visiting the top of the hill and looking at multi-stage waterfalls will provide a different mood;
- Swimming waterfalls;
- Have different foods in the area, cooked using raw materials, available in the direct community;
- Camping with high safety;
- Looking at flocks of butterflies;
- Entertaining at night and chatting as the group around the fire;
- Studying, researching, and finding out community;
- Getting newly and differently experiences with the natures as the heart of Samlot district.