Siem Reap: Siem Reap’s Kampong Phluk commune in Prasat Bakong district is set to host an Inland Ocean Festival on June 14-15 to celebrate Tonle Sap Lake and mobilize public support for its environmental protection and biodiversity conservation.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, this is the third event of its kind, organized by the Prasat Bakong District Administration and the NGO2 Bamboo Shoot Foundation with support from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Environment, and Siem Reap Provincial Administration. The festival aims to foster greater appreciation for the Tonle Sap Lake and inspire sustainable practices among locals and visitors.
Governor of Prasat Bakong district, Mr. So Platong, highlighted that the festival will feature boat tours on the lake, a vibrant tourist parade with giant puppets, exhibitions of local products, entertaining boat races, and more. The event seeks to shift public behavior by discouraging the disposal of garbage and plastic waste into ASEAN’s biggest freshwater lake to protect this vital source of livelihoods for surrounding communities as well as Cambodia at large.
The Inland Ocean Festival is also expected to attract more tourists to Kampong Phluk and Siem Reap, especially during the rainy season, to enjoy the natural beauty of the lake and experience the welcoming hospitality of the locals.