Sokha, General Manager at Soria Moria Hotel

Last week young adults from Salariian Kampuchea visited The Soria Moria Hotel in Siem Reap to get an idea of how a hotel runs front and back of house. One of the young adults have commented on their trips…

On 22nd and 24th of June 2011 at 2:30, Ravy, a life skill trainer took and brought life skill students for two teams to visit a hotel named Soria Moria hotel located in Siem Reap.

All our students cycled to the hotel and back to their home successfully.

When we arrived at the hotel, the receptionists welcomed us friendly and passed to a General Manager name Ms. Sokha and Mr. Poich, Receptionist.

During our visiting, Ms. Sokha explained and showed our students different departments and different rooms. After that our students were welcomed to ask many questions to her and they also noted down all ideas and answers from Ms. Sokha. Please see their pictures and activities during the visit underneath.

Following this Ms. Sokha recommended a meeting with Mr. Samnieng, General Director. He introduced our students to a restaurant and kitchen.

Finally, our students left the hotel and spent short time has some drinks along the river and after that they went home safely.

They are very interesting in and happy to visit the hotel and thanks to our organization and the hotel representatives take opportunity and showed them around the hotel.

HOPE volunteers at World Responsible Tourism Day Siem Reap

HOPE took full part in the organisation and facilitation of World Responsible Tourism Day in Siem Reap, ensuring that the date was marked and celebrated raising awareness of how the tourism industry can play an active part in supporting their local community and environment they operate in. Its aim was to bring together all spectrums of the tourism industry and a variety of NGO’s and charities in a networking environment, displaying exactly how the tourism industry can contribute to responsible tourism.

Usually a trek from one side of Siem Reap to the other, depending on mode of transport, doesn’t take longer than 15 minutes. Think again… on world responsible day, which just happened to coincide with the annual water festival, it took almost an hour to get from one side of town to the other and even then people were ditching their cars and jumping on motos to get to the networking event at Angkor Palace Resort and Spa on time. It was a clear night (no rain!!) perfect for a good turnout of about 70 people.

Networking began from 6.30pm with background music from the Landmine Victims band, and canapés and drinks, hosted by Angkor Palace Resort and Spa, were served. An introductory welcome speech by Thomas Holdo Hansen (www.angkorhotels.org) was given in reference to Responsible tourism and the role we can play, followed by Plan International’s Program Unit Manager Sophray Pich (www.plan-international.org).

Sophray presented Plan International’s community involvement and poverty alleviation commitment utilising tourism services through a number of presentation slides. Speaking in Khmer she reached out to the locals whom attended the event, emphasising that the event was held for all stakeholders, whom have a commitment to the community they operate in. Lastly, Michael Horton from ConCERT (www.concertcambodia.org) announced the launch of the newly created Cambodian based NGO bringing together tourism enterprises, the NGOs and charities.

Presentation tables were set up representing different spheres of community development work including Schools for Children of Cambodia whom encourage visitors in Siem Reap to attend organised school open days and see firsthand how their operation works. For more information have a look at www.schools4cambodia.org/content/VisitSCC.aspx.

Angkor Center for Conservation and Biodiversity were also represented. They encourage tourists to see their work in action out at Kabl Spean (http://www.accb-cambodia.org/en/background.php).

Osmose and The Silk Lab displayed and sold their wares to a captive audience. Osmose even got a large order for its dried water hyacinth products for the Angkor Palace! These were just two examples of how community development project products can be sold in tourism establishments in order for tourists to buy.

In addition, both the Silk Lab and Osmose produce items for decorative use in hotels and restaurants. For example large floor mats or pillows and cushion covers. See how the Soria Moria Hotel, denoted by Heritage Friendly Business as one of the best role models of sustainable tourism development in Cambodia, work with these projects ensuring a win win situation at http://www.thesoriamoria.com/community.php

For more information on products and contact details visit http://www.sangkheum.org/silklab/index.php and http://www.osmosetonlesap.net/english/accueil.php.

The Norwegian Development Organisation (NEDO – www.nedo.no) brought along a couple of bicycles to display and a selection of lovecards demonstrating exactly how their operation directly connects the tourism industry with communities. Bicycles for hire and lovecards sold at local hotels and guesthouses puts the tourist $ straight into NEDO’s educational and development projects.

Pepy Ride (http://www.pepyride.org/) were also there to displaying their work, alongside Touchstone Magazine in conjunction with Heritage Watch http://www.heritagewatch.org/ , HOPE (Harnessing Opportunities through Play and Education) and local craftsman including artists and shadow puppet leather crafters.

The prize draw was won by Deborah Groves from Helping Hands (www.helpinghandscambodia.com) and Eng Panarith from locally owned guesthouse My Home Tropical Garden Villa.

We are considering running another event early next year due the success and popularity! Please feel free to contact us trustees@hopeforcambodia.org.uk should you require further information, exhibit or be sent an invitation!

World Responsible Tourism Day, a global event for the travel industry, will be promoted in Siem Reap in various locations with cultural performances and handicraft stalls for local craftsmen, organisations and charities.

In close co-operation with hotels and local NGOs in Siem Reap, HOPE, ConCERT – Connecting Communities, Environment & Responsible Tourism and www.angkorhotels.org are organizing a networking event with key industry stakeholders, at the Angkor Palace Resort and Spa on the evening of Wednesday 12th of November where there will be an opportunity for NGOs from all spectrums (environmental, health care, education, arts and crafts, centres for children and vocational training centres) to highlight their work and discuss how the tourism and hospitality industry can impact the communities and environment they operate within in a positive manner.

ConCERT, “Connecting Communities, Environment & Responsible Tourism”, is a new Cambodian NGO, and will be officially launched at this event which inline with conCERT’s  overriding aim – is to build a bridge between tourism and poverty alleviation. Tourism and Siem Reap are inextricably linked, and tourism has the capacity both to cause problems, and to bring great benefits to local communities.  Benefits can come from:
• the tourism businesses engaging with local communities, buying local goods, produce and services, by employing and training local people, and by operating their businesses in environmentally sustainable ways
• tourists themselves, who are increasingly motivated to engage with and contribute to responsible tourism activities, especially projects and initiatives in the local communities

With this in mind our networking event will include cultural performances and stalls where local craftsmen and organisations can display their wares in order for hotels, restaurants and tour /activity operators to see some of the options available and get a better idea and understanding of how the tourism industry, in a small way, can help towards poverty alleviation and, also, make destinations a better place to live and travel now and in the future.

If you are based in Cambodia and you would like to get involved or receive more information as the event develops please feel free to contact us.