The government is working to turn coastal Kep into a top tourism attraction along with other coastal provinces.

Environment Ministry spokesman Neth Pheaktra said authorities convened a meeting on Wednesday in Kep province to work out a plan to beautify Kep beach in a move to attract tourists.

Pheaktra said that Kep Provincial Environment Department officials reviewed what they had done in 2022 and planned for next year, especially related to waste management and conservation of the biodiversity in the province.

He said that the provincial environment department is currently implementing a project to repair and run the wastewater treatment plant in front of Chroy Dong and Phsar Kdam beaches.

“Our environment department officials have also asked all vendors to install small wastewater treatment basins in their businesses in a bid to prevent polluted water from flowing into the beaches and make the beaches cleaner,” he said.

Kep provincial governor Som Piseth said provincial authorities have paid great attention to environmental protection and conservation of natural resources in the province.

To make the province greener, Environment Ministry and local authorities have reforested 12,000 mangrove trees in the protected coastal area.

“We need to develop infrastructure, expand urban area and agriculture promptly to make Kep the most beautiful and attractive for the tourism sector,” he added.

Piseth also urged all people to work together to dispose of waste properly and to reduce the use of plastic, especially on the islands.

Earlier this month, The Ministry of Environment urged all visitors to the beaches to stop using non-biodegradable food containers like plastic containers and bags because plastics can leach toxic chemicals into the environment.

Prime Minister Hun Sen also requested Michel Bujold, the president of the World Bays Club to look into the possibility of banning the use of plastic at all beautiful beaches during their meeting on the sideline of the 16th World Congress of the World Bays Club in Sihanoukville on December 10.