MEKONG
DISCOVERY
TRAIL
PROJECT presented by
Dr. Harsh Varma
Director
Technical Cooperation
International Conference on
Community Development
through Tourism
Phnom Penh, 16 – 17 September 2014
• Mekong runs a 190km-long
course through Stung
Treng and Kratie provinces
• Great biodiversity and
habitat of rare freshwater
dolphins
• Natural beauty and cultural
heritage
THE GREAT MEKONG RIVER
TOURISM DEVELOPMENT POLICY
Focal points of National Tourism
Development Policy:
• North eastern Cambodia
• Community-based ecotourism
• Mekong River
• Supporting Government’s objectives and
efforts
• Framework of Sustainable Tourism –
Eliminating Poverty (ST-EP)
• Joint contribution and collaboration
between UNWTO ST-EP Foundation,
Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia, SNV
Netherlands Development Organisation,
Spanish Agency for International
Cooperation, and UNWTO
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT
MAJOR GOALS
• Sustainable forms of tourism and
diversification of tourism products
• Local economic development of north-
eastern Cambodia
• Conservation of the critically endangered
Mekong River Dolphin
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT
OBJECTIVES
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE I
• Ensure that Kratie has a well-coordinated and integrated
approach to sustainable tourism development
• Increase tourism revenue in Kratie by extending the
average length of stay through product diversification
• Contribute to the development of Northeastern Cambodia
through the provision of tourism planning for Kratie city
and infrastructure for tourism
• Alleviate poverty through tourism and its backward and
forward linkages to other sectors
OUTPUTS
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE I
• Tourism Development Master Plan for Kratie Town
• Urban Master Plan to redevelop Kratie town’s water front
with a Visitor Centre and a River Dolphin Centre
• Plans for port facilities for passenger boats
• Plans for water front restaurants and night market
• Plans to upgrade transport systems in Kratie
• Recommendations for new accommodation
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE I
Figure: Example of
Village Guesthouse
Figure: Plan for water front
Figure: Plan for night market
Figure: Kratie Tourism Development Master Plan
OBJECTIVES
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE II
• Support the design and development of the Mekong
River Dolphin Discovery Trail
• Introduce sustainable development for isolated rural
communities in Stung Treng and Kratie
• Encourage development of community-based tourism
• Diversify products and develop a variety of new tourist
destinations along the Mekong River in Stung Treng and
Kratie provinces
OUTPUTS
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE II
• Ecotourism and Community Development Plan
• Interpretation Plan and Trail Design Manual
• Trail guide book
• House-boat and Horse Cart Design Manual
• Product Development and Marketing Plan
• Mekong Discovery Trail logo and website
(www.mekongdiscoverytrail.com)
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE II
Figure: Logo
Figure: Poster promoting the Trail
Figure: Trail guide book
Figure: Web site
OBJECTIVES
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE III
• Diversify rural incomes through tourism micro ventures
• Support capacity building programmes able to target
women, youth and disadvantaged minorities
• Encourage and support the protection, preservation and
conservation of cultural, natural and environmental
heritage through tourism
OUTPUTS
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE III
• Hospitality training for target communities in Stung Treng
and Kratie provinces
• Intensive English language training for representatives
from target communities, a horse cart association and the
100-pillar temple
• Sign-posting plans for the Trail
• Important products in place to create additional income
for local people (kayaking, bicycling, horse cart rides)
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE III
Figure: Mekong Discovery Trail product – kayaking
Figure: Mekong Discovery Trail product – bike rental
Figure: Mekong Discovery Trail product – horse cart ride
Figure: Mekong Discovery Trail product – bike routes
OBJECTIVES
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE IV
• Promote private sector investment in responsible tourism
development
• Build capacity of stakeholders (central and provincial
level tourism authorities and local communities)
• Provide technical assistance in small-scale infrastructure
development
• Facilitate greater participation of the poor and
disadvantaged in the tourism economy
• Support the design and implementation of marketing and
promotional campaign of the Trail
OUTPUTS
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE IV
• Tourism investment advisory and information package
(including 6 identified investment opportunities)
• Capacity development and business linkages between
private sector, local authorities and communities
• Construction of 4 food stalls and 2 stairs along/down the
Mekong river; and 2 toilets
• Intensive English tourism language training
• Design and operation of public/private partnership project
for waste management
OUTPUTS - continued
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE IV
• Non-verbal communication toolkits
• Folding maps and posters
• Bill boards, information interpretation and interpretation
panels, signage
• Media spots,e photographic image bank
• Media communication strategy
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE IV
Figure: Tourism investment information pamphlet
Figure: Stand of the Mekong
Discovery Trail at an investment
forum
Figure: Small-scale infrastructure development
A set of stairs leading down to the Mekong
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE IV
Figure: Non-verbal communication cards
Figure: Training in waste management
Figure: Training in hospitality
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – PHASE IV
Figure: Folding map of the Trail
Figure: Poster of the
extensive Trail
SALIENT ACHIEVEMENTS
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – END OF PHASE IV
1. Awareness
2. Product development
3. Capacity building
4. Institutional structure
5. Marketing and promotion
OUTCOMES
MEKONG DISCOVERY TRAIL PROJECT – END OF PHASE IV
• Poverty alleviation
• Community involvement and participation
• Community development
Thank you!
Dr Harsh Varma
Director
Technical Cooperation
Visit us at unwto.org
