23 May 2008. Phnom Penh. Stay Another Day, an initiative that promotes sustainable tourism in Cambodia, launched a new publication and an exhibition today at META HOUSE Gallery. The 23-page publication, Cambodia on a Plate, features mouth-watering photographs, interviews with chefs, information on ingredients, sample recipes, and listings for restaurants, cooking classes and cook books.
During the launch, Kate Lloyd-Williams, Tourism Manager for the International Finance Corporation’s Mekong Private Sector Development Facility (IFC MPDF) explained that Cambodia on a Plate aims to inspire visitors to explore and enjoy Cambodian cuisine.
“Too many people think that Cambodian food is just a poor cousin to Thai and Vietnamese cuisines. While the three countries do share similar geography, climate and ingredients, there are considerable differences too. Cambodia has a wealth of unique dishes and much to recommend it. In addition to being delicious, it uses little fat, and lots of fresh vegetables, fruits and seafood. This makes it one of the world’s healthiest, most balanced and interesting cuisines. By promoting Cambodian cuisine, we hope to encourage greater local benefit from tourism through the purchase and use of locally-grown ingredients.”
The month-long Stay Another Day exhibition at META HOUSE showcases Cambodia’s unique geography, biodiversity and people, as well as its re-emerging arts, crafts, and cuisine. The exhibition also introduces the wide range of non-governmental organizations and socially-responsible businesses that have products, tours or other services of interest to tourists. These include village homestays, eco-tours, urban architecture tours, traditional dance, drama and music performances, craft workshops and galleries, restaurants that train disadvantaged youth, and a number of environmental, social and economic development projects that welcome visitors.
The Stay Another Day initiative, a partnership between IFC MPDF and German Development Cooperation (GTZ), which is financed by the German government, defines sustainable tourism as tourism that protects the natural environment, historic or cultural assets and/or benefits the local community.
“We launched Stay Another Day,” said Lloyd-Williams, “to promote sustainable tourism as well as address chronic constraints in the tourism industry – short length of stay, low spending and few return visits. Although Cambodia has a wealth of attractions – colorful markets, beautiful beaches, rivers, wildlife parks, and a rich traditional culture, including food – most tourists focus only on Angkor Wat. By visiting the NGOs and businesses we promote, tourists have a chance to get to know the country and its challenges better, and also help disadvantaged people by buying products, making donations or volunteering time.”
Peter Bolster, Team Leader of the GTZ Private Sector Promotion Program, also stressed the importance of benefiting local communities. “Studies show that tourism is not doing much for local people. For example, Siem Reap Province remains one of the poorer provinces in Cambodia, despite millions of dollars earned from tourists. Overdevelopment is another threat. With scores of new hotels and guesthouses opening in recent years, electrical supplies, water supplies and waste treatment are not keeping up.
“Through distribution of more than 150,000 of SADI’s attractive booklets across Cambodia, and overseas through tourism industry fairs and tour operators, SADI has helped to raise awareness about Cambodia’s efforts to develop sustainable tourism and show that this is much broader than just eco-tourism. Tourism is an industry with great promise in Cambodia but it must be developed in a sustainable manner so that it continues to provide jobs for future generations.”
Ho Vandy, President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents and Private Sector Co-Chair of the Working Group on Tourism, praised Stay Another Day for encouraging tourists to stay longer and spend more. “Both local and international tour operators have incorporated SADI activities into their tours and they say clients are eager to have an opportunity to learn more about Cambodia and spend money in ways that benefit poorer people.”
Philip Set Kao, President of the Cambodia Hotel Association, congratulated Stay Another Day for breaking ground in promoting Cambodian cuisine. “When people travel to a new destination, most are eager to try the local food. The new SADI booklet, Cambodia on Plate, is an excellent introduction to Cambodian cuisine.”
Asked why META HOUSE, an art gallery and art cinema is staging the SADI exhibit, gallery manager, Lydia Parusol, said that META HOUSE has a strong social mission and Stay Another Day fits that. “This exhibition is an excellent introduction to the traditional arts and crafts of Cambodia, as well as other unique features of the country, and we are happy to support that.”
In the 18 months since the first edition of Stay Another Day Cambodia was published, the campaign has shown good results. In a recent survey, SADI attractions indicated that business has improved, along with donations and volunteers. Also tourists coming through SADI spend or donate twice as much as other visitors.
Thy Hourn, Tourism Project Manager for Cambodia, says that in recent stakeholder workshops, participants were unanimous that Stay Another Day benefits both their country and their community, and it should continue. “Along with adding Stay Another Day activities to their itineraries, some tour operators have even translated the booklets into their language. Another indicator of success is that almost all the initiatives listed in the 2007 Stay Another Day Cambodia have signed up again for this year’s edition, and more have joined as well.”
