Project Description
Cambodia’s rich biodiversity and cultural heritage positioned it well to expand ecotourism, particularly in the wake of COVID-19’s devastating impact on the tourism sector, which saw up to an 80% drop in arrivals and US$2.8 billion in losses. The Cardamom Mountains–Tonle Sap (CMTS) landscape, home to Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake and rainforest, supported five million people and was vital for climate resilience, water regulation, and biodiversity. With 62% of the Cardamom Mountains under protected status and 70% forest cover, the region offered exceptional ecotourism potential. In 2018, the Royal Government of Cambodia adopted a national ecotourism policy and pursued a strategic plan linking major tourist hubs to the CMTS.
Objectives, Activities, and Results
The World Bank-funded Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project promoted ecotourism in CMTS protected areas while aligning with regional tourism plans. It enhanced institutional capacity for landscape planning, supported Non-Timber Forest Product (NTFP) value chains—especially for women—and improved rural income while promoting forest restoration. The project also upgraded infrastructure and access, and emphasized strong community participation to ensure sustainability of Community-Based Ecotourism (CBET) initiatives. Five components guided implementation: protected area management, ecotourism and NTFP development, connectivity improvements, project coordination, and emergency response preparedness.
