The Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA) and two environment-focussed non-governmental organizations (NGOs) – Ocean Recovery Alliance Ltd. (ORA) and NGO2 Bamboo Shoot Foundation – have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to support sustainable ecotourism development in the Kingdom, with a special focus on the Tonle Sap, Cambodia’s largest inland lake.
The scope of the MoU will include various joint initiatives such as awareness-raising educational events, film festivals and theatre performances designed to widely promote environmentally-friendly waste solutions, recycling initiatives, and swimming and water stewardship, across the Tonle Sap region, said a joint press release on the partnership.
The MoU aims to promote the overall environmental betterment of the entirety of the Tonle Sap Lake region, through both preservation efforts and sustainable promotion of the area via the region’s fledgling ecotourism industry.
The new collaboration with CATA builds on previous efforts by the partners over the past six years working with villages within the Tonle Sap region to promote water cleanliness, protection, and environmental awareness.
According to Ocean Recovery Alliance, as detailed in a recent facebook post, the NGO’s new year partnership with CATA will seek to leverage the tourism association’s wide connections with the local travel industry, and in doing so, broadening the awareness and appreciation for the environment and eco-tourism initiatives within the local tourism sector.
“Initially this will be related to some of our work in the Tonle Sap Lake area with our ‘Inland Ocean Festival’, ‘Water Falling Festival’ and ‘Harvest Plastic’ programs, but with obvious visions for expanding to other areas and events which CATA is involved with,” the post added.
Speaking with local media, Chhay Sivlin, President of CATA, noted that the collaboration is focused on preservation efforts to protect the Tonle Sap’s unique ecosystem, as well as sustainable ecotourism practices.
Sivlin said that one aspect of the partnership is the development of sustainable tourism initiatives able to benefit both the environment as well as local communities who rely on the Tonle Sap for their day-to-day well-being.
The collaboration will offer community support by improving the livelihoods of Tonle Sap residents, she said.
Sivlin also noted that the work done between the partners can bolster Cambodia’s image as a responsible tourism destination, which is of growing importance for the global tourism industry.
The collaboration on an annual ‘Blue Sea’ event will also assist in raising awareness of the Tonle Sap as an ‘Inland Ocean’, Sivlin added, rallying protection efforts.
Ocean Recovery Alliance is a registered non-profit in California, and a registered charitable organization in Hong Kong.
Meanwhile, NGO2 Bambooshoot is a Cambodian-based NGO founded in 2009.
According to hospitality sector insider, Steve Jolly, Owner of Karma Traders, in a recent interview with Khmer Times, incoming international tourists to Cambodia are increasingly concerned with the environment.
He said that given this trend, efforts to improve the local tourism industry by focusing on sustainability and ecotourism efforts are important for the sector’s growth.
“Efforts to educate the public and enforce cleanliness around nature spots will go a long way in preserving the region’s beauty, as well as bolstering tourism arrivals,” he added.
Looking ahead, he said that eco-friendly travel will maintain its popularity throughout the global tourism industry in years to come.
However, Jolly said he also anticipates a rise in charitable travel trends, whereby more travelers want to actively support organizations that give back to local communities.
