The proposed maritime route linking the Cambodian islands off Sihanoukville with the nearby islands of Thailand and Vietnam may get ready for tests by November and can increase trade, tourism and investment opportunities in the destinations.
The proposal has been lined up under the Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand Economic Corridor (CVTEC) initiative, said Long Dimanche, the Deputy Governor of Preah Sihanouk Province who led a delegation from 16 Cambodian provinces recently for the ‘CVTEC Cruise Farm Trip’ along with delegations from Thailand and Vietnam.
Administrative leaders of coastal provinces of Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand organized the trip, the Deputy Governor told Khmer Times yesterday, expressing the hope that the route could be established for tests as early as this November.
The route could connect sea tours from Trat (Khlong Yai Port) in Thailand to Sihanoukville (Sihanoukville Autonomous Port) and Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam.
The stakeholders from the three countries will have to apply for a permit from their respective governments and follow the prescribed procedures for the test to become successful.
“At the same time, the three parties will prepare marketing plans, tourism promotion plans, as well as select tour boat operators to transport tourists through the agreed route,” Dimanche said.
Representatives of Trat Provincial Administration of Thailand, Thai Tourism Industry Promotion Council and the Department of Organizing Meetings and Exhibitions of Thailand joined the CVEC Farm Trip event, along with representatives of the Sihanoukville Chamber of Commerce, water transport operators and tour companies in Trat, Thailand.
“Cambodia has great tourism potential, so connecting the three countries will enable the country to attract more foreign tourists from Thailand and Vietnam by creating a single package tour,” Dimanche said.
According to a report in Bangkok Post, Trat Governor Natthapong Sanguanjit recently presided over a meeting about the initiative at the CVTEC-Trat Business Roadshow 2024.
The Deputy Governors of six provinces in the three countries, Tourism Council of Thailand (TCT) President Chamnan Srisawat and Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB) Senior Vice President Puripan Bunnag attended the meeting.
Chamnan said the aim is to push for the maritime route linking the three countries, which will create a market under the concept of ‘One Market, Three Destinations.’
“The maritime route will not only function as a modern day economic route, but it will also be a charming tourism route, with beautiful nature and culture along the way,” Chamnan said, according to the Bangkok Post.
TCEB Deputy Director Apichai Somboonpakorn said the TCEB believes Thailand is ready for this project, adding if successful, it will allow tourists to travel from Pattaya to Laem Chabang, and then on to Trat, Sihanoukville and Kien Giang and vice versa.
Representatives of private and public sectors of the three countries have already entered into a memorandum of understanding to jointly ramp up trade, investment, tourism and the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions industry in the areas along the route.
