Moving Beyond Agriculture and Ecotourism: Analysis of the Potential of Agro-Ecotourism for Sustainable Development in Northeastern Cambodia

1. Moving Beyond Agriculture and
Ecotourism: Analysis of
the Potential of Agro-Ecotourism for
Sustainable Development in
Northeastern Cambodia
Baromey Neth, Sam Ol Rith, and Socheata Tao
Department of Tourism,
Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia

2. Background & Rationale
2
This reflects that our human society has failed to function as a integral
fraction of nature, and to support unsustainable consumption while
increasing number of human beings trapped in extreme poverty
Cambodia is striving to recommit itself to sustainable development
and has established a clear vision for green development in the
context of economic growth and poverty alleviation
IP communities in NE Cambodia are facing severe livelihood problems
and socio-cultural change and alienation
Therefore, integrated symbiosis approaches need to be developed to
help human society live in harmony with nature and utilized as a dual
remedy to address environmental and livelihood vulnerabilities in NE
region

3. Background & Rationale (cont.)
Sustainable Economic
Growth &
Development
Improved
Community
Livelihood
Strategies &
Welfare
Improved
Environmental
Governance

4. Nature-
Harmonious
Society in
Northeastern
Cambodia
Water &
Transboundary River
Governance
Market and Non-
Market-based
Mechanisms in in
Agricultural
Productivity &
Ecosystem Services
Socio-Ecological
Resilience and
Community Health /
Capability
Business Models for
Sustainable
Community Economic
Development
Alternative
Mechanisms for
Harmonization of
Economic
Development &
Environmental
Conservation
Stakeholder
Harmonization &
Linkage in Land and
NR Governance

5. Agro-Ecotourism
Characteristics
Sustainable
organic
agriculture
Improved
environmental
governance
Improved
community
livelihood
strategies
Economic
growth &
green
development
Regional
integration
Market-
based multi-
sectoral
linkages
Revitalized
& preserved
IP culture

7. Aim & Objectives
— Aim: To analyze the feasibilities for developing
agro-ecotourism as an integrated tool for economic
growth via multi-sectoral development, community
livelihood improvement, and environmental
conservation in Northeastern Cambodia, while
identifying opportunities to have it developed at
different economics of scale and forms.

8. Objectives:
1) To identify the potential resources and products in forms of
attractions, human capital (necessary skills/knowledge and
technology), tourism services and amenities and tourists activities;
2) To find out relevant policies, plans, and other legal framework that are
supportive of developing and promoting agro-ecotourism in Cambodia
with a particular emphasis on Northeastern part of Cambodia;
3) To identify and analyze capacity and support of concerned
stakeholders (Representative government, civil society, tourism industry
and communities) for agro-ecotourism development in Northeastern
Cambodia as well as in specific locations/sites of the province as well
as their perceptions on potential benefits that it could provide to the
area;
4) To assess the current and anticipating challenges to development of
agro-ecotourism in Northeastern Cambodia; and
5) To prepare appropriate strategies to develop and use agro-ecotourism.

9. Methodology
— A part of a research project on nature-
harmonious human society building in NE
Cambodia supported by WB-MoEYS-HEQCIP and
the CBET project supported by DANIDA, EU, and
WWF-Cambodia
— Research sites:
§ Mondulkiri & Ratanakiri provinces
— Data Collection:
§ Documentary review & analysis
§ Key informant interviews
§ Semi-structured interviews
§ Expert / stakeholder workshops
§ Non-participant observation
— Data Analysis:
§ Content analysis
§ Framework analysis

10. Findings & Discussion
POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
NATURE CULTURE
Natural landscape; rich
ecosystem services and
biodiversity resources (wildlife
and plant species) and unique
natural habitats; agricultural
farms; home gardens; rural
agricultural landscape; etc.
Traditional farming techniques;
traditional cultural
performance of indigenous
communities, arts and
craftsmanship; tradition,
culture, and wisdom /
knowledge of indigenous
people IP); local gastronomy
and food processing; & many
other tangible & intangible
cultural assets.
POTENTIAL
ACTIVITIES
ON-FARM OFF-FARM
Harvesting crops, vegetables and
fruits; staying with local (IP)
people; learning about organic
agriculture and agricultural
production; etc.
Wildlife viewing; enjoy
traditional dance; learning
about plant and animal species,
waterfall bathing; trekking and
hiking; cycling in local villages;
boating / canoeing; etc.

11. Findings & Discussion (cont.)
Support Legal & Policy Frameworks
24,sept 1993
Constitution
1, Nov 1993
Royal Decree on the
Creation &
Designation of
protected areas
24, Dec 2001
Environmental
protection and
Natural Resource
19, Mar 2001
Law on Commune
Administration
Sept 2001
Land Law
Aug 2002
Forestry Law
Dec 2003
Community
Forestry Sub-decree
30 Mar 2006
Fisheries Law
21 july 2006
Guidelines For
Community
Forestry
3 June 2005- 20 Mar
2007
Sub-Decree on
community
Fisheries
Management
13 july 2007
Guidelines For
Community
15 Feb 2008
Protected Area Law
Indigenous Land
right
2005 (amended
2009)
Sub-Decree on
Economic Land
Concession
7 May 2012
Executive Order
No. 001

12. Findings & Discussion (cont.)
1995 2002 2003 2004 2006 2008 2009 2010 2013 2014
Signed the UNFCC
Signed Kyoto Protocol
Forest Law
Sub-decree on community
forest management
National Biodiversity
Strategy & Action Plan
National
Adaptation
Program of
Action to CC
Protected Area Law
Green Growth Roadmap
National Forest
Programme
(2010-2029)
Cambodia REDD+
Roadmap
Policy on Green
Growth
National Strategic
plan on Green
Growth
Cambodia Climate
Change Strategic Plan
(2014-2023)
National Strategic
Development Plan
2014-2018
Evolution of relevant regulations
Rectangular
Strategy (Phase 3)

13. Findings & Discussion (cont.)
— Analysis of Opportunities
Attraction Relationship Infrastructure Accessibility
Rich in natural
and cultural
resources
Limited linkage
between agriculture
and tourism
Only a basic infrastructure,
not for agro-ecotourism (e.g.
indigenous market, organic
agri-product fair)
Accessible by every
transportation mode
User
Prerequisite
Social Interaction Tourist Demand Private Sector
Interest
• Richness,
uniqueness &
authenticity of
local knowledge
• Basic skills, but
not yet ready for
tourism
Willing to
participate, yet lack
of proper
mechanisms to
involve them. Still
tourism is still
viewed as benefits
for them.
• Peak period: Oct to May
(foreign tourists)
• Different travelling patterns
between domestic and
international tourists
• Favorite activities and
willingness to pay
Investment in
providing tourism
amenities and small-
scale agricultural
farms, etc.

14. Findings & Discussion (cont.)
— Challenges for Agro-Ecotourism Development
Legal
Challenges
Policy
Challenges
Institutional
Challenges
Structural
Challenges
Market
Challenges
Implementation
Challenges
Political
Challenges
Technological
Challenges

15. Benefits for Community
Development
— Improving welfare of both host
and guest communities
— Revitalization of culture and
agriculture
— Enhancement of farm income
and local livelihoods
— Reducing amount of out
migrant to neighboring
countries due to high job
opportunities, etc.
Benefits for Conservation
Activities
— Land use securities through
proper land used zoning
— Ability to cope with climate
change effect and contribute
reduce bad effect of climate
change through practice of
sustainable agriculture, etc.
Macro-Economic Benefits
— Agricultural export industries
improvement
— Multi sectoral growth
— Green tax
— Diversify types of business, etc.
Micro-Economic Benefits
— Improve rural production and
livelihood systems
— Increase and diverse amount of
income
— Reduce leakage of local
economy
— Improve multiplier effects
— Stimulate rural economy, etc.

16.
Full Economic
Participation &
Livelihood
Improvement
Home Saving Asset
Financial Security and
Independence
Jobs Business Leadership
Jobs, Business and Entrepreneurship
Aspirations Education Training Qualification
Individual Capabilities and Resources
Infrastructure Land Governance Security
Strengthening Foundations

17. Principles for Agro-Ecotourism Development
in Northeastern Cambodia
• Crop diversification with rotational crop planting
system, improve animal and human welfare
Organically-grown and
managed farm
• Water quality and soil fertility management, integrated
land used planning, ecosystem approaches in
agricultural production
CC response in agricultural
practice and environmental
governance
• Product development & diversification and quality
improvement
Visitor and tourist
experiences
• Create strong linkage and network with other
businesses
Multi-sectorial integration
• Create partnerships, networks, and consultation with
government advisor, CSOs, CBOs, private sectors,
etc.
Stakeholder collaboration
• Build trust, ownership, capacity and capital
investment, proper governance structure, business
legal frameworks
Community empowerment
and ownership building
• Product development, marketing network, distinctive
product branding, sustainable business models,
extensive initial consultation
Market mechanisms

18. Scenarios Development and Analysis
q Agro-ecotourism can be developed into three
different scenarios based on practical contexts and
supporting policies to tackle against current
development challenges in the areas.

19. Scenario 1: Community-Owned & Managed
Community
Empowerment,
Ownership
building
Stakeholder
Collaboration
Organically-
managed
farm
Climate
Change
Responses &
Environ.
Governance
Market
Mechanisms
Visitor /
Tourist
Experience &
Satisfaction
Multi-Sectoral
Integration

20. Scenario 2: Joint Venture
Community
Empowerment,
Ownership
building
Market
Mechanisms
Stakeholder
Collaboration
Multi-Sectoral
Integration
Organically-
managed
farm
Climate
Change
Responses &
Environ.
Governance
Visitor /
Tourist
Experience &
Satisfaction

21. Scenario 3:
Private-Owned & Managed Farm
Market
Mechanisms
Community
Empowerment,
Ownership
building
Visitor /
Tourist
Experience &
Satisfaction
Stakeholder
Collaboration
Organically-
managed
farm
Climate
Change
Responses &
Environ.
Governance
Multi-Sectoral
Integration

22. Guideline Components
Phase 1
Feasibility
Study
Phase 2
Formalization
Procedure of
CBET Site
Phase 3
Formulation
Sustainable
CBET
Business
Phase 4
Sustainability
Management
and
Monitoring
Since community-owned and managed agro-ecotourism is only
potentially feasible to develop in existing CBT/CBET sites in
Northeastern Cambodia at present under support frameworks
of environmental NGOs and specific government ministries, it
is important that in order to be sustainable its planners and
developers following the following guidelines:

23. Phase 1: Feasibility Study
1. General
Poll
2. Resource
Inventory
3. Stakeholders
& Institutional
Analysis
4.
Community
Assessment
5. Market
Assessment
Feasibility
Methods
and
Process

24. Phase 2: Formulation Procedure of CBET SiteCBETEstablishment
Step 1. Registration and Feasibility Study
Step 2. Zoning and Spatial Land Use Planning
Step 3. Establishment of CBET MC
Step 4. Formulation of By-Laws
Step 5. Formulation of Management Plan
Step 6. Stakeholders Endorsement and Implementation

25. Phase 3: Formulation of CBET Business Plan
Step 1: Envision
CBET Business
Typology
Step 2: Develop
vision and
mission
statement
Step 3: CBET
Enterprise
Description
Step 4: Value
chain and Green
supply
management
Step 5:
Consumer care
and quality
management
plan
Step 6: Sale and
marketing
strategy
Step 7: Risk &
crisis
management

26. Phase 4: Sustainability
Management and Monitoring Plan
Step 1: Environmental & Biodiversity Conservation
Step 2: Visitor Management
Step 3: Community/Indigenous Empowerment
Step 4: Community/Indigenous Capacity Development
Step 5: Contribution to Community Welfare & Social Inclusion
Step 6: Respect of community/indigenous culture
Step 7: CBET Business Sustainability

27. Conclusion
— With abundant natural and cultural resources as well as diversity, authenticity, and
uniqueness of current on-farm and off-farm activities, supportive existing policies
and stakeholders’ support, Northeastern Cambodia have strong potential for
developing agro-ecotourism.
— Although agro-ecotourism is not a remedy to every development context in the region,
it can be developed into three different scenarios with its general principles and
specific guidelines to follow, while its flexibility and adaptability as either an
environmental, an economic stimulus, or community empowerment and stakeholder
engagement tool should be taken into serious account by actual developers /
planners / implementers in the areas.
— To develop agro-ecotourism in Northeastern region in a timely and sustainable
manner, it strongly requires practical agro-ecotourism policy endorsed by the
responsible agencies, an integrated ecosystem-based land and resource use planning
and management, effective and efficient stakeholder engagement mechanisms, and
specific sustainable indicators as prerequisites to its implementation.

28. Thanks for Your Attentions!