Some 32 lifeguards from four coastal provinces are now undergoing a five-day training programme conducted by Thai experts.

Taing Socheth Krisna, director of the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Department of Tourism, said that to improve the quality of lifeguards, the Provincial Department of Tourism launched the training course on lifeguard skills in Sihanoukville.

The ultimate aim of the programme, which ends on October 29, is to provide rescue services for people who get into difficulties when in the water.

The lifeguards are to be stationed in Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk upon completion of the course.

Krishna described the course as very important as it will improve the quality of lifeguards in both their theoretical knowledge and practical skills from teachers with many years of experience.

Mang Sine, Deputy Governor of Preah Sihanouk province, said training the lifeguards was an important factor in assisting both local and international tourists, who visit Sihanoukville and find themselves in trouble while in the water and the lifeguards who will be on standby will be able to help them.

Sine added that this training course was part of the strategic policy of the Ministry of Tourism, as well as the Preah Sihanouk Provincial Administration and the Department of Tourism in the action plan to strengthen safety management in important tourist destinations.

He said that it was part of the plan to strengthen security and public safety in resorts and tourist areas.

He said the course is being conducted by professional trainers from Trat province in Thailand for five days, with 32 participants from the four coastal provinces.

Koh Rong City governor Nuon Bunthol said yesterday that currently in Koh Rong city, he just used tourism officials and security guards to provide water safety in coastal areas to protect the domestic and international tourists who are visiting the city.

He added that in the future, there will be more training to increase the number of lifeguards to handle the increasing number of national and international tourists visiting the city.

Bunthol said that he has noticed that the number of tourists visiting Koh Rong has increased and that he must strengthen security for visitors.

“The government has observed that in Koh Rong, more than 100 tourists are visiting every day and we must be prepared to provide security for them,” he said.