Phnom Penh: The Royal Government of Cambodia has approved on Monday the draft recommending the province of Mondulkiri as an international ecotourism destination. The draft for “Mondulkiri Tourism Development Master Plan 2021-2035” highlights the province as the kingdom’s top source of flowers, vegetables, fruits and meat to meet both local and international demands.

Prime Minister Hun Sen says the master plan’s preface shows that tourism sector in Mondulkiri province continues to grow showing a full protentional for future development. He has added that the development of tourism in the province will create opportunities for investment and added value in tourism and inter-sectors, which supports the economic development of Mondulkiri province and the national economy as a whole, as well as contributes to conserving and protecting natural resources, cultural heritage and the provincial original identity.

The government has agreed to identify six priority areas for development – ecotourism corridors and ecotourism of the five wildlife sanctuaries namely, Bousra-Dakdam for cultural and ecotourism corridor; Sen Monorom city, O’ Raing Ov district connected with the development of Mondulkiri airport; urban areas of Koh Nhek district, and integrated tourism areas at the border as well as the scope of investment and development. Prime Minister Hun Sen says that these areas should be highlighted in the master plan.

The Royal Government of Cambodia has predicted that Mondulkiri province will receive $500 million in revenue from about three million tourists per year according to the 15-year tourism development master plan. It has added that apart from Mondulkiri, the government has drafted tourism development master plan for Kep and Siem Reap provinces which are already approved.