Green and clean message

PHNOM PENH Cambodia will campaign for green and clean tourism to move tourism up the quality scale a few notches.

Agence Kampuchea Presse reported that the Information, Tourism, and Environment ministries will work with the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia and the private sector to educate citizens about the need to have a clean environment and provide quality tourism services.

Tourism Minister Thong Khon was quoted saying the plan would present a green and clean campaign to the public to encourage a transformation in thinking and to upgrade the quality of tourism content.

Ministry of Tourism also wants to encourage international tourists to visit coastal areas and ecotourism destinations to take the pressure off Siem Reap, which is the dominant tourist destination even surpassing Phnom Penh the capital.

It will encourage events to be hosted at Sihanoukville the main coastal resort. The first one will probably be the Mekong Tourism Forum to be hosted this June.

Information Minister Khieu Kanharith added the ministry will ask TV channels to help present a message presenting clean environment and good tourism services.

The country is upgrading its tourism, streamlining its immigration procedures and welcoming niche tourism such as retirees by offering more services and easy visas.

Cambodia tourism grew to 4.8 million international tourists, last year, increasing 6.67% from 4.5 million visits in 2014. The country expects arrivals to reach 8 million by 2020.