Koh Samseb Eco-Tourism Community in Kratie, Cambodia, Attracts Tourists with Rich Nature and Wildlife

The "Koh Samseb Eco-Tourism Community" located in Kratie province, northeastern Cambodia, is attracting attention from tourists due to its rich natural environment and diverse wildlife. The community is situated in Ou Krieng Sen Chey district, approximately 95 kilometers from the provincial capital, Kratie city, and was established on June 7, 2016. It spans across Sak Lao village, Koh Khnaer village, and Sak Lao village along the Mekong River, covered by extensive pine forests and semi-evergreen forests. This area serves as a crucial habitat for numerous wildlife species, including gaurs, sambar deer, wild boars, peacocks, vultures, and the rare Giant Ibis. Consequently, it holds significant potential for eco-tourism development and natural resource conservation. Tourists can not only enjoy the natural beauty but also gain experiences in learning about biodiversity, interacting with nature, and contributing to the livelihoods of local communities and nature conservation. Furthermore, within the community's fishing grounds, there are abundant deep pools, waterfalls, islands, and flooded forests that serve as vital breeding grounds for fish. Overall, the region is blessed with rich natural resources such as forests, rivers, canals, streams, wildlife, birds, and numerous fish species inhabiting the Mekong River. Cultural resources include traditional festivals like Khmer New Year, offering ceremonies, ancestor veneration, traditional music, sorcery, weddings, and the traditions of ethnic minority groups. Moreover, the people in this region possess a commendable culture characterized by mutual assistance, a lack of factionalism, friendliness towards guests, good manners, and honesty, serving as an excellent model. According to data from the Kratie Provincial Department of Tourism, the community comprises 427 households with a total population of 2,169 people, of whom 1,113 are women. Approximately 90 percent of the residents are indigenous people of the Pnong and Kuy tribes, whose livelihoods depend on forest product collection, farming, animal husbandry, and fishing. The Kratie Provincial Department of Tourism is promoting the development of a total of 22 tourist sites within the province. These include 7 cultural and historical sites, 4 natural sites (including 7 community-based tourism sites), 1 cultural-natural site, 3 man-made sites, and 1 reserve site (Ta Kro Mak Waterfall Community Eco-Tourism). Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local