The World-Bays Club approved its Charter of Bay during 2022 World Congress of the Most Beautiful Bays in the World Club (World-Bays Club) held in Sihanoukville from December 9-11, 2022, said a release by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) on Wednesday.

The achievement was announced during the concluding ceremony of the 16th Congress of the Bay Club, attended by Chea Sophara, Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MLMUPC) on Tuesday, who represented Prime Minister Hun Sen, while the Premier was co-chairing the EU-ASEAN Commemorative Summit in Brussels of Belgium, said the release.

The ceremony was also attended by Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and Louis Thebault, President of World-Bays Club, Kouch Chamroeun, Governor of Preah Sihanouk Province and over 130 international delegates from 21 countries. The charter of bay was established to ensure that the bays of the club’s members will be developed sustainably and responsibly.

“The implementation of the charter of bay needs to include participation from the people and local authorities,” said Sophara, suggesting that the tourism minister who is the representative of Cambodia’s bay and the governors of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong to cooperate with one another in the implementation of the charter effectively.

Sophara went on to add that Cambodia, as the club’s secretary general for the term 2023-2025, is committed to implementing the charter responsibly. The charter also includes the recommendations of Prime Minister Hun Sen and other stakeholders in bay development, said the minister, who is also one of the deputy prime ministers.

Khon said coastal provinces are the most suitable destinations to receive tourists in this season as Cambodia has arranged attractions of the cities, beaches, infrastructure, expressway and tourism services that are ready to welcome those tourists. He added that the link of the annual bay congress to the Sea Festival in Preah Sihanouk province is very special to show tourism products to local and international guests.

“It is because the club has a lot of members as beaches and media networks and it is an agency that would be able to promote our tourism products to tourists effectively and attract them to visit our country more and more. So, these are very important events for us to promote our tourism industry as a whole,” said Khon.