@DebadattaMeher thank you for asking, no issue. The organization has many projects, and I was part of Community Based Ecotourism Development team. We are 5-6 people, trying to transform forest people to those who can accommodate foreign visitors. We taught them English, computer, financial management, community management, booking management, product development, guiding, cooking… And many other capability development trainings. I was there for 5 years between 2007-2013. Now, they can independently do and manage it. They can communicate very in English. In one month, they can accommodate about 300 visitors, 99.5% are westerners.
We had different roles to play - community development officer, business trainer, and I was as PA to Project Manager who managed the whole project. I traveled to this site very often, sometime 4 times a month for a meeting, and other things.
@DebadattaMeher my first and second degree is Tourism Management. I wrote about Chi Phat CBET to complete my 2nd degree. Thanks to NZ government’s scholarship for providing golden opportunity to be at NZ. I deeply love NZ not only for that but the true beauty of NZ.
Hi @Sophia_Cambodia thanks for sharing your educational details.Being fond of education I am requesting you for the same.And really very much happy to know the degree you achieved from NZ.That’s great.
@DebadattaMeher thank you dear, I’m glad you found it interesting. I m proud of the baby I partly raised. They can walk by themselves. I’m going back there often, bringing clients to them 2-3 times per year, as private tour apart from my full time job.
@DebadattaMeher because of the successful project at Chi Phat, Wildlife Alliance also helped created another site which is in the same district to develop the same approach which I wrote in another post here Why Areng valley a special site?
@Sophia_Cambodia Hello Sophia, thank you so much for sharing, it was very well done!. I am really glad to hear the turn around that was perform for such town. And glad to learned about such, and the awards and recognitions that been given. Thank you!
@RamsesMorales *my friend, thank you for such a motivated comment. So to say, without strong effort, that cannot be done. It has been about 10 years for such recognition. The organization has spent million of Dollars in order to advocate people to stop illegal logging, hunting an other things. Sand dredging and there is one time even the big mining company wants to have this area the mining areas for titanium mine. The strong support from local people who understood the value of forest and ecotourism, the tourism ministry and organization that could keep this site alive. Otherwise, all the efforts are gone!
Wow, this place really is a pearl, @Sophia_Cambodia . It’s actually my kind of a place. It’s not only beautiful but it also provides activities that I enjoy. I was sure that your post is going to be interesting when you mentioned it in our previous conversation and it really is. Thank you so much for taking the time to share all these useful details with the community. I for one am very pleased to have learned so many incredible details about Chi Phat.
@KlaudiyaG Thank you dear. I am not surprised that any people would love this place and once everything is back again, I am sure you can come. Some westerners know this place before Cambodia as a country because they saw it in the news or Lonely Planet. I am proud that I was part of the project between 2007-2013. I still call it home.
I’ve heard so many wonderful things about Cambodia over the years. Not only from Local Guides, but family and friends too which had the opportunity to visit this wonderful country. They all say the same things that the people are very friendly, the food is delicious and that the nature is mesmerizing. I really hope that one day I’ll experience what Cambodia has to offer.
I’ll definitely check your other posts too, @Sophia_Cambodia . These days, I dedicate my free time to create lists of places that I would like to visit, so your posts will definitely help me to fill some of the lists up.
@KlaudiyaG making a bucket list sounds fabulous. Me too, but just personally. I hope you enjoy reading my articles and find your preferences. Btw, if you ever plan to come here, please let me know. I will see if my schedule allows any trip together. I’m already excited
@Sophia_Cambodia Great post on this tourism gem! Great to see how they turned it from an illegal logging hub to a world recognised ecotourism spot! I hope many other places can see the value in this change! The photos are really nice to and help show the various activities there! Thanks for sharing all the tips and for introducing this lovely place to the community!
I am glad you loved the post!
