Somros Koh Han Community Based Ecotourism (CBET) in Koh Snaeng commune, O’svay district, Stung Treng province consist of total population 2,749 people/1,297 females equals to 586HHs/28FHHs. It locates in the unique landscape of Middle Stretches of the Mekong River Ramsar site with wonderful and rich natural ecological setting. The tourist can enjoy with many activities such as boat trip to visit flooding forest, watch endanger bird species, have fishing tour, conduct mountain trekking, visit the stone stature with their legends, make camping-visiting sunset, kayaking, have good taste of local food, make a village tour and stay overnight at community homestay …etc.
As a CBET representative, she also said that she attended commune council meeting to update about the CBET progress, challenge and seek feedback from them. Through the arrangement, the CBET is considerably operated well. In 2017, there were only 27 households who joined with CBET group but now it reaches to 43 members. In 2018 and 2019, they can generate annually income more than $3,000 from CBET for livelihood improvement. Moreover, they also annually contributed about $30 for conservation.
She is a woman but she can do it. She said that “I am happy with what I have done. My husband is a hug part of supporting me to implement CBET tasks. He helps me both daily family and business works”. She also shared her expectation that “I hope this CBET will gradually improve through the commitment of communities and the supporting from NGOs and technical department under Partners for Forestry and Fisheries (PaFF) programme. We, committees, do it from our heart. In future, we have plan to attract more tourists by creating potential tourism site in the community forestry such as forest walking/trekking. For long term vision, I wish to see my CBET get more tourists, communities get more income and natural resources are protected.”