Wildlife Alliance Celebrates Partnership With Tourism Company

Transat and Wildlife Alliance will work together to build an ecotourism infrastructure in Cambodia’s Koh Kong Corridor.

Wildlife Alliance and Transat will partner to continue to develop a sustainable ecotourism industry in the Koh Kong Corridor, recognized as one of Lonely Planet’s Top Ten Destinations in 2010.

In the communes of Chi Phat and Trapeang Rung, Wildlife Alliance and the community members are working together to develop sustainable ecotourism opportunities—providing jobs for former poachers and loggers who now serve as guides and guesthouse operators for an increasing number of foreign tourists. Villagers who once were forced to roam the forest as hunters and loggers, diminishing Cambodia’s environmental heritage, now have legal jobs as guides and operators of sustainable trekking, mountain-biking, and river boat tours.

Wildlife Alliance began its community-based ecotourism program in 2007, building on almost a decade of conservation and sustainable development programs in Cambodia. Lonely Planet has called Wildlife Alliance’s program in Chi Phat the best community-based ecotourism destination in Cambodia, highlighting the increasing appeal of its locally run guesthouses, restaurants, and outdoor activities.

Community members own, manage and work in restaurants, guesthouses and homestays, catering to people visiting to see the wildlife, archeological sites, waterfalls and caves—giving local residents a stake in ensuring the long-term protection of the land.

This new commitment from Transat will strengthen the two communities so they can take over management of the entire ecotourism infrastructure by the end of 2013. The grant will improve infrastructure, accommodations and operations, as well as provide technical assistance and training to villages. Through this funding and programmatic support, members of the community will continue to escape poverty and diversify their incomes.

Since 2007, Transat A.T. Inc., one of the largest integrated tourism companies in the world and Canada’s holiday travel leader, has committed a total of more than $500,000 in financial backing to 14 initiatives in various locations around the world.

About Transat:

Transat A.T. Inc. is an integrated international tour operator with more than 60 destination countries and that distributes products in over 50 countries. A holiday travel specialist, Transat operates mainly in Canada and Europe, as well as in the Caribbean, Mexico and the Mediterranean Basin. Montreal-based Transat is also active in air transportation, destination services, accommodation and distribution. Descriptions of all projects supported can be found at www.resp.transat.com.

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Reference :

- http://www.wildlifealliance.org/newsletters/2011/4/19/april-2011-newsletter.html