A master plan was officially launched to transform Kep province into a smart and luxury tourism destination to host the upcoming 10th Sea Festival and other international events in the future, a press release of the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) said.

Presiding over an event on ‘Kep Tourism Development Master Plan 2023-2035’ and preparation for the 10th Sea Festival, round three, Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, said the master plan aims to turn Kep into a high-quality and luxury tourist destination with an attractive natural environment ensuring a highly competitive advantage in the region and the world.

Others who took part in the event include Som Piseth, Governor of Kep province, Ny Phally, Secretary of State of MoT, members of relevant ministries and institutions of Kep province.

Som Piseth extended his support to disseminate the Kep Tourism Development Master Plan 2023-2035, and appreciated the efforts for launching the project that will enable the Kep province to host major regional and international events.

Piseth said that the government has improved many tourist destinations by attracting investors, national and international tourists into the province which generated job opportunities to improve the livelihood of the people in the area.

Speaking with Khmer Times, Som Chenda, Director of Kep Provincial Department of Tourism, said, “The provincial administration has organised the Sea Festival every year to promote the provinces with coastal areas in Cambodia. As such, last year the festival was conducted in Sihanoukville, and in the following years the festival will be held in Kos Kong and Kampot provinces.”

Chenda added that the 10th Sea Festival scheduled in mid-December will be participated by 26 countries.

Ny Phally, also the Chairman of the secretariat of the Inter-Ministerial Commission of the master plan said, “Kep is strategically defined by four tourism development poles such as the old town of Kep city known as a world-class luxury park, Angkul Beach, a modern natural tourism area and Phnom Vour, a valley with sweet promises which is an agro-tourism natural area. The last pole is the archipelago tourism area, a luxury island area within the province.

Thong Khon said the ‘Kep Tourism Development Master Plan 2023-2035’ has set the vision to transform the province into a high-level luxury tourism destination by adhering to the principles of sustainable development, safety, quality, competitiveness, and a smart tourism province.

He also sought the cooperation of provincial administration to cooperate with relevant ministries and institutions to organise the upcoming event of cultural and art as well as tourism events in Kep province. The team leaders must be prepared for the third round of the 10th Sea Festival to ensure the success of this tourism event and attract more tourists across the world.