Cambodia: the latest Asian Phoenix bird changing its feathers from red to green

Gayle J Mayes

Tourism hasn't been perceived as the "Good Guy" in many places around the world, especially in developing countries where laws, regulations and awareness of impacts by locals are often inadequate, non-existent or totally dismissed as the multinationals move in, take over and destroy pristine natural environments. Tourism developers also have the unenviable reputation for prioritising and promoting the economic and political "bottom lines" while downplaying and at times totally disregarding the impacts on the socio-cultural and environmental assets and resources of developing, very poor and peripheral Asia-Pacific destinations. As the Cambodia Government spreads its wings and attempts to shake off the legacy and horrific impacts of a bloody past, a lost generation, and a country ruled by the Khmer Rouge regime, it is searching for ways to boost the economy and educate its people as it emerges from the ashes like the proverbial Phoenix Bird. The Cambodian Ministry of Tourism (MoT) has recognised that sustainable tourism development has the potential to transform their struggling economy and their country. The MoT identified Noosa - an international icon of sustainable tourism development - as the vision they wish to achieve for their coastline and their very poor country. In a world first, a team, including members from Ecotourism Australia, the Noosa Biosphere and the University of the Sunshine Coast Sustainability Research Centre have responded to the request from the MoT . Plans are now under way for the Australian team to assist the MoT in gaining an understanding of the policies, principles, practices, planning and implementing sustainable development and "green tourism". By building the knowledge and capacity of the MoT first, the team intends to empower the decision makers and then work together on developing an integrated management plan and sustainable tourism master plan for Cambodia's coastal zone. The full paper discusses in more detail, the factors of the political, technical and socio-cultural environments driving the MoT and in which this unique partnership will take place, along with the integrated coastal zone management plan and the green tourism development proposed by the team.

Cambodia: the latest Asian Phoenix bird changing its feathers from red to green

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