Re-scheduled to the dates of December 12-14, the annual Cambodian Sea Festival was successfully held in Koh Kong Province this year. Under the straight theme “Coastal Ecotourism – Green Development”, some 150,000 visitors were expected to join the activities, mainly along the “Golden Mile” in Koh Kong at the eastern bank of the Koh Pao River.

Arriving in Koh Kong from Kampot by bus (11USD per person) on November 30, I arrived early to witness the preparations to be made to beautify the city. Especially, the riverside promenade was cleaned up, as all the small food stalls and beer stations had to be moved away, the flimsy wooden boat piers were dismantled and the illumination pillars painted and electrified. On the north side of the Koh Kong Bridge, which was already inaugurated on April 4, 2002, to reach the Cham Yeam international border crossing with Thailand some 10 km away in the west, there was already a modern public park established, while the new Koh Pao Garden Restaurant nearby offers authentic Khmer food for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

On the full moon day of December 6, a colorful longboat race competition on the river was conducted early in the morning under the supervision of the Governor of Koh Kong and it was there that I met Mr. Sreng Hong, Director of Civil Service Department, Koh Kong Province, to inform me about the coming of the Sea Festival within a week’s time.

In the connection of “Cambodia Bay” as the rising star of the Southwest and its listing as one of the most “Beautiful Bays of the World”, Koh Kong is part of the development of coastal Cambodia, which also comprises the provinces of Preah Sihanoukville, Kampot and Kep near the border to Viet Nam. Becoming an ideal eco-destination, Koh Kong is only a comparatively small town, but with a lively market. To the north and east of the city, the jungle-clad Cardamom Mountains cover much of the province, offering trekking, biking and river excursion possibilities. Heading south of Koh Kong, secluded beaches line the pristine coastline and the big island of Koh Kong.

There are a number of mid-range guesthouses and hotels in town, such as the Apex Koh Kong Hotel as well as the Koh Kong City Hotel and Asian Hotel at the riverside. Upscale is the Koh Kong Bay Hotel on the riverside, same as the Koh Kong Resort with its lavish casino-hotel complex and swimming pool at the Thai border. For dining purposes are the Bay Café and Café Laurent, both offering superb sunset views over the river. Actually, there is the newly opened “Wood House” in a side street towards the market, which has as good “fusion” food menu and is owned by a young Frenchman and his Khmer wife. When I was there, the music played was excellent, consisting of Bob Dylan songs.

During the time of the Sea Festival, the whole riverside promenade was closed for traffic, which is light compared with traffic in Phnom Penh and other bigger cities. What the Sea Festival had to offer was the following:

• International Food Fair
• Tourism Development Project Exhibition
• Live Concert
• Cultural Performances & Fireworks
• Beach & Water Sport
• Aero Show Activities

The aim of the Sea Festival seems to highlight the busy development of the Cambodian coastal provinces and to show the establishment of the new “Cote d’azur” of Cambodia. Investors are welcome.

The Sea Festival, now in its third year, was organized by the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Koh Kong Province, National Olympic Committee of Cambodia as well as the Ministry of Commerce. Interesting to note is that the main sponsor of the event was Angkor Beer, while co-sponsors were Cambodia Airports, Canada Bank, Sokha Hotels & Resorts, NagaWorld Phnom Penh, and surprisingly BMW from Germany among others.

In the future, there will be the booming of the already established Koh Kong Special Economic Zone, Kingdom of Cambodia, where the South Korea-based Motor Company Hyundai operates a car assembly plant next to some Japanese companies, in a planned joint venture with Hat Lek, Amphoe Klong Yai of Trat Province in Thailand. But let “green development” prevail.