Dolphins drive tourism

KRATIE, 30 October 2012: Kratie, a province in northeast Cambodia has seen an improvement in tourist arrivals and length of stay since the Mekong Discovery Trail project was established in 2007.

The Mekong Discovery Trail is a co-operative effort with the Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism and has the support of UNWTO, Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID) and the Netherlands Development Agency (SNV).

The project covers a trail190 km from the Laos-Cambodia border in Stung Treng province all the way to Kratie and comes with several suggested sub-trails having maps with attractions marked as well as transport options, brief information of the areas, possible itineraries and contact persons.

Kratie Provincial Department of Tourism director, Run Pheara told TTR Weekly that before the launch of Mekong Discovery Trail project, very few tourists visited Kratie. Those who did were drawn by the opportunity to view rare Irrawaddy Dolphins in Kampi, about 16 km out of Kratie town.

The length of stay was 1.3 days in 2007,  but it improved to 2.2 days in 2009 and continues to be around two days.

“The project has developed community-based tourism (Koh Trong and Koh Phdao) and crafted trails linking attractions in Kratie: communities, temples and dolphins. Tourists have more to do so they stay longer,” he said.

According to statistics, from January to September, Kratie welcomed 13,974 international tourists compared to 12,737 during the same period in 2011, representing an increase of 9.7%. For the last three months of this year, Mr Pheara projects 1,500 tourists per month or around 18,500 tourists by year-end.

In 2011, the province received 17,296 tourists compared to 13,733 in 2010 or a jump of 25.9%.

Top 10 source countries are French, China, United Kingdom, Germany, Vietnam, Australia, United States, Netherland and Italy.

Kratie has 797 rooms in two-star hotels. There are 12 hotels without any stars and 29 guesthouses.

A new hotel, Mekong Dolphins Hotel (60 rooms), should open next year.

As for other developments, Mr Pheara said the provincial tourism office plans to build a resort near Sambour, but needs  approval from the government first as it will require a 4 km access road to be built.

It may also construct additional huts along the Mekong River for tourists to rest and have meals during the dry season from January to June.

Next month, it expects to complete the first tourist information centre situated on the river bank opposite the tourism office.

“The information centre will help promote tourism in Kratie. We need  tourists to gain more information so they can explore several tour options, while here,” said the tourism director.

A road project will cut the distance between Kratie to Kampong Cham to 150 km and Kratie to Siem Reap from 400 km to 300 km.

Sourced: ttrweekly