Cambodian officials plan to implement a 12-year tourism development master plan to establish the country's coastal city of Kep into a world-class ecotourism destination alongside Siem Reap and Sihanoukville. At present, some local infrastructure construction projects have been launched, and some large-scale public and private investment projects have been approved by the authorities.
According to the Khmer Times, the upcoming "Khappa Tourism Development Master Plan 2023 2035" hopes to put Pak Pak at the forefront of infrastructure and policy investment through the implementation of a long-term strategy. The master plan aims to raise the profile of Kep as Cambodia's next major tourist destination and achieve long-term sustainable growth for the local tourism economy.
According to the report, the aforementioned master plan is still being further refined and is expected to be officially released in 2024. Earlier this month, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said the master plan would propel Kep into a new eco-tourism destination and high-end resort.
Cambodia's Ministry of Tourism** previously disclosed that the master plan includes the construction of new tourist attractions in Kep, such as golf courses, marinas and other sports and entertainment venues, and the upgrading of existing infrastructure such as hotels and beaches to attract luxury tour groups and high-end business events. To this end, the authorities will develop a tourism marketing and promotion strategy and develop a plan to establish a coastal tourism innovation centre.
According to the introduction, the master plan covers four key tourism development pillars: the development of Hakuba Old Town into a world-class luxury park city;Development of the beach area of Ang Koul into a modern natural beach resort;Development of the foothills of Phnom Vor into an agricultural, natural and historical resort;Developing the islands of Hakuba as a luxury island destination.
In order to achieve the expected goals, the local ** started the construction of a new logistics network, and the reconstruction of the coastal road in Baima has been completed for 90 years. In addition, the completion of a US$1.7 billion canal project will also boost the logistics and economic development of Hakuba, injecting new impetus into the development of the local tourism industry.
A series of changes also suggests that private tourism investors have seen great potential in Hakuba. A group will invest US$130 million to transform Rabbit Island into a luxury tourism hub with resorts, hotels, entertainment centers, Buddhist sites and Cambodia's first sightseeing cable car connecting the islands, the local authorities confirmed.