The government’s third annual River Festival, which is being held in Stung Treng province next weekend, will form part of a strategy to attract eco-tourism investment to provinces in the northeast of the country, officials have said.
Kong Sophearak, director of the Statistics Department at the Ministry of Tourism, told Khmer Times that coastal areas, Phnom Penh and the ancient province of Siem Reap have traditionally attracted the bulk of hospitality investment. But he said the festival would be used to showcase eco-tourism sites in northeast Cambodia to both foreign and local visitors and investors.
“The River Festival is not only about attracting local and foreign tourists, but also showcasing the potential for investment opportunities,” he said, “We recognise the northeast is yet to develop fully functioning services in terms of accommodation and restaurants, but that makes it a good opportunity for investors.”
