Kratie Aims to Be Northeastern Cambodia's Leading Tourism Model by 2030

Kratie province is set to become a leading model tourism destination in northeastern Cambodia under its Tourism Development Plan 2026-2030, focusing on strengthening natural and cultural tourism and improving the quality of tourism services. The plan was officially launched on Sept. 7 at Kratie Provincial Hall under the presidency of H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism, and H.E. Va Thorn, Governor of Kratie province. About 300 participants attended the event, including representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, relevant institutions and provincial departments, local authorities, armed forces, tourism operators, tourism communities, educational institutions, content creators and trainees. H.E. Huot Hak said the Tourism Development Plan 2026-2030 serves as a common roadmap and practical framework to mobilise all relevant stakeholders to jointly develop Kratie’s tourism sector with higher quality and greater appeal. The plan envisions Kratie becoming a prime destination for natural and cultural tourism and the most attractive model province in the northeastern region over the next five years. The Minister stressed that amid growing competition among tourism destinations and changing tourist preferences, Kratie must continue developing new tourism products, improving service quality and strengthening security and safety for visitors. These efforts are needed to ensure the province can meet the demands of a new generation of tourists and remain competitive with major tourism destinations in the region and globally, he added. H.E. Huot Hak outlined four key recommendations: continuing to create distinctive tourism sites and transforming underutilised public spaces into innovative tourism products and experiences; and developing storytelling at potential tourism destinations. He explained that modern tourism is not only about “selling places” but also “selling stories, experiences and emotions,” by connecting destinations with their history, culture, architecture, lifestyles, cuisine and other unique characteristics. The Minister also called for the development of a distinctive Kratie tourism brand that can remain memorable to visitors, while encouraging the province to explore more night-time tourism activities to extend tourists’ length of stay. The event also included the presentation of certificates to trainees who completed the Cambodia Hospitality Training (HoKa) programme, contributing to the development of skilled human resources and improved hospitality services in the province. By C. Nika