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The Assessment and Mitigation of Cumulative Environmental Impacts of Hotel Activities in
Siem Reap, Cambodia
Description
The Training and Technology Transfer Program (TTTP) of the Canadian Universities
Consortium Urban Environmental Management Project at AIT and the Minister of the
Environment from Cambodia have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding to work
cooperatively on a Cumulative Effects Assessment in Siem Reap. Cambodian environment and
tourism officials have identified a range of environmental issues that face the Siem Reap
community as it further develops its tourism potential. Issues of sanitation, sewage, the
availability of clean water, and the quality of the river are only some of the issues
facing both the community and the national government. There is recognition of the
importance of effectively dealing with these issues to protect the welfare and health of
local inhabitants. There is also a strong recognition of the potentially negative impacts
that poor environmental management will have on the success of the tourism industry.
International experience has demonstrated that issues of sanitation and environmental
quality are important determinants in insuring the success of a tourism destination.
 The TTTP will carry
out an assessment of the impacts of the hotel industry in the town of Siem Reap. This will
involve assessing the impact of present as well as planned hotels over the next period of
time. Using Canadian, Cambodian, and AIT-based experts the study will identify the major
environmental impacts attendant with this form of hotel based tourism activity. Based on
this evidence, mitigative measures will be identified and specific initiatives undertaken.
There will be a focus on identifying feasible and appropriate mitigative measures for the
community. These measures will provide an information basis for decision making and future
actions. Together, the assessment and identified measures should also assist the community
in their efforts to secure international funding for the implementation of specific
actions (e.g., design and construction of an appropriate sewage system). There is
recognition that there are a number of other actors and dimensions in helping to plan and
manage the community. The project will attempt to interact with as many stakeholders as
possible recognizing that the project timeframe as well as budget will present constraints
in dealing with the full range of issues facing the community.
It is anticipated that the project will be completed by November 2000, with the results
of the work to be disseminated through publications and video (CUC Outreach Series), and
at the Conference: "Sustainable Urban Tourism Destination Management: From Rhetoric
to Sustainable Urban Environmental Management Practices," to be held at AIT, 27-29
November 2000.
 Activities
- Production of Situational Analysis
- Production of Cumulative Impacts Assessment Documents and Video
- Development of Mitigative Measures
- Environmental Impact Assessment and Cumulative Effects Assessment Training
- Contribution to the Environmental Impact Assessment stream of the Conference:
"Sustainable Urban Tourism Destination Management: From Rhetoric to Sustainable Urban
Environmental Management Practices," 27-29 November 2000
Partners
- Ministry of Environment, Cambodia
Publications
"CUC-AIT UEM TTTP: Preliminary Situation Report." Andrew MacNaughton. June
1999.
Contact Information
Bill Ross (Project Leader), ross@ucalgary.ca
Project Information
Walter Jamieson, cucuem@ait.ac.th
© 1999, Canadian Universities Consortium
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