Kampot International Tourism Port, inaugurated on Monday, is expected to bring more tourists through the waterways, including via its connection with tourist ports in neighboring countries and the region, said Prime Minister Hun Manet.
A three-month pilot operation last December progressed smoothly, although it has yet to establish links with neighbors, regional partners, and the international network. But, he remarked, the port already plays a vital role in luring tourists to coastal areas and facilitating trips to Cambodia islands.
In 2024, Cambodia recorded 6.7 million foreign visitors, up 22.9 percent year-on-year, Chinese media outlet Xinhua reported. The tourists were from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Laos and the United States.
The tourist port was built on four hectares of land with $10 million from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), along with government funding. It can facilitate passenger ships or tourist vessels carrying up to 300 people for international arrivals and departures.
Kampot Tourist Department director Soy Sinol said some 7,000 tourists made their way to the port after the pilot operation with 70 percent featuring foreign visitors.
“This is a good thing [development port].We have never had a port like this. When we have multiple transportation options, it would be convenient for tourists to travel,” he added.
Cambodian Association of Travel Agent president Chhay Sivlin agreed, saying that the port will play a significant role in bringing tourists to Cambodia. However, having a tourism port is not enough as there should be additional services to meet visitors’ needs and interests.
“In the tourism sector, service is important. When there is good and reliable service, visitors will spend more,” she said.
Cambodia needs to develop its infrastructure further, along with services, such as transportation, accommodation, food, sale of local products, and introduction of new tourism sites to attract more visitors.
“We need to strengthen our products so that visitors can spend more. If we only have a port and think that’s enough, we will only have transportation revenue from the port,” Sivlin said.
“If we have additional services, we’ll have the ability to enjoy more so that our people, including business owners in the province can benefit from tourism,” she added.
