The tourism ministry on June 23 kicked off the third edition of a contest to seek out model tourism communities, in a bid to promote community-based tours and responsible travel to natural areas.

The competition also aims to advance the “Srolanh Cheat, Trov Skoal Teuk-dei” campaign, which loosely translates as “to love the nation is to know its territory”.

The ministry noted in a June 23 statement that the contest was launched in collaboration with the National Committee for Management and Development of Community-Based Tourism and Ecotourism.

In Phase I in July, ministry units will take in applications on behalf of candidates. Agencies responsible include the Phnom Penh and provincial tourism departments, the Tourism Product Development Department and the aforementioned national committee’s secretariat.

The statement reminds interested parties to attach all relevant documents to their applications and submit them during working hours or via Telegram to 010-509-818.

In Phase II in August, an evaluation community will review and assess the submissions and the actual situations of the candidates. In the following month for Phase III, the committee will compile data and prepare a final report, to announce the winners.

In Phase IV in October, the committee will notify the winners, and then the ministry and national committee will hold an award ceremony in Phase V, on the occasion of the 3rd National Ecotourism Forum on November 21-22.