Two Cambodian coastal towns, Kep and Kampot, both capitals of their namesake provinces, have been awarded the fourth ASEAN Clean Tourist City Standard for the period of 2024-26.

The recognition came at the January 26 award ceremony in the Lao capital Vientiane.

The ceremony, held under the theme “Quality and Responsible ASEAN-Sustaining ASEAN Future”, was attended by tourism ministers from the ASEAN member nations, as well as representatives of China, Japan, South Korea and several other countries.

Kep provincial governor Som Piseth, who accepted the award, said on January 28 that the prestigious wins were the result of the efforts of the provincial authorities and all of the residents in the province.

He explained that the award was presented to Kep based on several indicators, including a pristine environment, public order, tourism development, sanitation, as well as waste and water treatment and management.

“This award is important, as it will serve to remind the public – especially the youth – of the importance of concerted efforts to contribute to protecting the environment,” he said.

“As the leader of the province, I wish to share how important this award is. It is a great honour for all of us – and the Kingdom as a whole – and raises the profile of Cambodia, reminding people that we have many world-class destinations,” he added.

Piseth stressed that this recognition also brought responsibilities, as the town must now ensure that its cleanliness remains sustainable.

The Kampot Provincial Administration confirmed that Kampot won the same award for the same period.

During the previous evaluation period of 2022-24, three Cambodian towns were selected for the award: Battambang, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville.

The ASEAN secretariat explained that the awards are presented in several categories, including for places, tourism entities, and specialist products and services.