Asian Trails Cambodia: a passion for community-based tourism

Asian Trails’ Cambodia team is taking corporate social responsibility (CSR) and community-based tourism (CBT) to a higher level through new initiatives that benefit host communities.

Besides protecting the environment, generating local income and improving lives, the DMC’s CBT and CSR operations are taking relationships deeper with its ESTEEM principles – Eat locally; Stay eco-friendly; Transport alternatively; Experience meaningfully; Empower viably; and Make a difference.

It now partners with cyclo drivers in Phnom Penh to empower this group and maintain their future involvement in our tours. The three-wheeled, pedal-powered cyclo rickshaws were launched in Phnom Penh in the 1930s and were an affordable way of getting around, but in recent times, their use has declined as residents use motorised vehicles and cyclo drivers seek alternative work.

Together with Hôtel KVL in Phnom Penh, the team met with some cyclo drivers recently to exchange ideas about how to deliver enriched experiences for guests. Each driver was given a gift of daily necessities and a re-usable water bottle to discourage the use of single-use water bottles.

This collaboration has enhanced the DMC’s product delivery - a ride in a cyclo provides a more enjoyable experience for guests as they enjoy a direct connection with communities through exploration of hidden neighbourhoods. It is also a cleaner, more eco-friendly way to get around.

Asian Trails’ Cambodia business development manager, Sorya Song said: “It was good to interact with the cyclo drivers directly and get an insight into the daily challenges facing them. This contact enables us to listen to their feedback, address any requests and deliver a superior CBT product.”

Carl Sladen, GM of Hôtel KVL added: “The opportunity to support both the local tourism community via the cyclo driver initiative and an active CBT partner in Asian Trails was valued and enjoyable.

“Some of our team joined the event, and bringing the cyclo drivers into our hotel where we provided them with our Vertical Fitness Center sustainable water bottles and beverages definitely had a feel-good factor.”

The DMC’s CSR activities have included a beach clean-up on Koh Sdach island, the provision of educational materials for schools in remote provincial areas, donations to monks at pagodas, and numerous recycling schemes.

Internally within its Cambodia offices, a green approach includes ‘Plastic-Free Wednesdays’. Near the Phnom Penh office, it has also joined forces with neighbouring companies to promote and maintain green practices such as a collective drive to place recyclable items into designated bins which are collected by a local organisation for reprocessing.