ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY-BASED ECO-TOURISM THROUGH PEOPLE-CENTERED DEVELOPMENT: A CASE OF PEARAING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION CENTER IN SIEM REAP PROVINCE, CAMBODIA

Abstract

People-centred development is very practical for eco-tourism in Cambodia because it supports community development, natural resource management and local livelihoods. This article examines community-based eco-tourism at Pearaing Biodiversity Conservation Centre. It aims to promote a combined hybrid cultural and natural tourism development. People-centred development applied by Pearaing Biodiversity Conservation Center is used as a case to describe how community-based eco-tourism (CBET) should be established in the future. Chreav district can develop hybrid-combined cultural and eco-tourism products because it is just 13 km away from Siem Reap city, and it is located in the Tonle Sap Lake. Visitors could enjoy the nature’s beauty, bird observation and gain knowledge about local people’s livelihoods. The Biodiversity Conservation Centre was registered as a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) at the Ministry of Interior (MoI), so it cannot extend its services. By law, the Community-Based Eco-tourism (CBET) must register at the Ministry of Environment (MoE). As a result, the Biodiversity Conservation Centre cannot improve infrastructure and diversify tourism products in the areas that the MoE manages. In the future, eco-tourism in Chreav district could be improved by (1) upgrading the poorly-performed indicators of the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index; (2) consulting with relevant agencies for a possibility to legalise Pearaing Biodiversity Conservation Centre as CBET; (3) improving the necessary infrastructure to provide more attractive tour services; and (4) enhancing services through accountable and transparent CBET management.