The high-speed ferries capable of carrying 300 passengers will make the 40-minute voyage twice a day
The newly opened Kampot International Tourism Port (KITP) expects to attract half a million Cambodian and international tourists this year, doubling to 1 million next year.
The KITP authority, a subsidiary of the AZ Group, on Monday signed a deal with Vireak Buntham Express Co. Ltd. (VET) for high-speed ferry services to Vietnam and Thailand.
“This partnership will enhance the development and growth of the national economy by promoting hospitality services and inland passenger transport in Cambodia,” said VET CEO Neak Oknha Vireak Suo.
“This cooperation is crucial for Cambodia’s transportation sector, particularly in facilitating travel for national and international tourists from Kampot to nearby islands and beyond.
“It is expected to become a significant economic driver for Cambodia.”
VET’s first international ferry service to Vietnam’s Phu Quoc island, which Cambodia calls Koh Tral, is due to make its maiden voyage on Wednesday.
The high-speed ferries capable of carrying 300 passengers will initially make the 40-minute voyage twice a day.
Foreigners, including Cambodians, do not need a visa to visit Phu Quoc
VET plans to introduce a service from the KITP to Trat, on the southern coast of Thailand, along with Sihanoukville and Koh Kong later this year.
“This partnership will enhance the development and growth of the national economy by promoting hospitality services and inland passenger transport in Cambodia,” said Vireak.
VET has been running high-speed ferry services from Sihanoukville to the islands of Koh Rong, Koh Rong Samloem and Koh Sdach for eight years.
The $10 million, 4.5 hectare international port in Kampot, funded by the Asian Development Bank and about 10-km from Kampot city, was completed in 2022, but technical issues delayed its opening until last month.
The new tourism port, 150 km from Phnom Penh, is a public-private partnership between the Cambodian government and the AZ Group, a diversified Cambodian conglomerate with operations ranging from construction to construction materials, robotics and project management.
It was officially opened on December 12.
Kampot is one of Cambodia’s most sought after tourist destinations, ranking number two after the iconic Angkor Wat temple complex. On New Year’s Eve, alone Kampot hosted 386,488 tourists, including 56,488 foreigners.
“One of the biggest advantages is Kampot is not far from Phnom Penh,” Soy Sinol, director of the Kampot Provincial Department of Tourism, told Khmer Times last week.
“It is easily accessible and also home to many interesting tourist spots.”
“Adding to it, there are environment-friendly homestays and bungalows, where visitors can relax and take a break from the crowded places.
“It played a huge part in attracting visitors to the province.”
