USAID Greening Prey Lang assists ecotourism efforts in two provinces

USAID’s Greening Prey Lang project has provided assistance to the Non-Timber Forest Products-Exchange Programme (NTFP-EP) by printing 3,300 tickets for three community-based ecotourism groups (CBETs) in Stung Treng and Kratie provinces.

According to a press release by the USAID Greening Prey Lang project issued on April 18, the CBETs are Koh Samseb, Borie O’Svay and Phnom Chomrok Sat.

“Each CBET received 1,100 tickets in both English and Khmer. The ticket layout and price were discussed and finalized with the Stung Treng and Kratie Provincial Departments of Tourism, Forestry Administration, commune councils and NGO partners during a quarterly stakeholder meeting,” the project said.

According to the announcement, the tickets will be used by tourists to pay their contribution fee to visit the CBET. The ticket fees for Cambodians cost 2,000 riel and foreigners pay one dollar.

The revenue communities receive from selling the tickets to tourists will be allocated to community forestry and community fisheries for natural resource protection efforts and will also be used for the development of the CBET sites.

The same announcement said that each community expects to sell at least 500 tickets this year. In addition to the revenue from selling entrance tickets, the communities can earn revenue from the services provided to tourists such as home stays, meals, boat rentals and guided tours.

These activities support the government’s policy approach that combines development and conservation as increased incomes for local communities from ecotourism encourage local authorities and communities to conserve and protect natural resources.