PHNOM PENH, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- Around 500 cyclists took to the roads on Sunday, completing a 179-kilometer journey across Cambodia to promote green tourism and deliver educational supplies to underprivileged students.
The event drew both local and international cyclists from various countries. The group journeyed from the capital city of Phnom Penh to Phnom Da Temple, a major historical tourism site located in the southern province of Takeo.
Speaking at the event, Cambodian Minister of Tourism Huot Hak highlighted how the initiative blends athletics with community impact, noting that the event showcases a unique tourism product connecting sports, heritage, nature, the environment, and local communities.
"This combination creates fresh experiences, stimulates both domestic and international travel, and helps establish Takeo province as a vibrant destination, particularly during the Green Season," he said.
The event aims to stimulate tourist flows during the Green Season and contribute to social initiatives through the donation of educational materials to underprivileged students, he added.
The cycling journey kicked off at Phnom Penh's Independence Monument Roundabout and headed into Takeo Province. Along the way, participants passed through several key areas and tourist sites, including Tonle Bati, Phnom Chisor, Ang Tasom, and Angkor Borei district, before arriving at their final destination, Phnom Da Temple.
Cycling is not only a form of physical exercise that promotes both physical and mental well-being, but also a tourism activity that enables participants to directly experience nature, traditions, customs, local ways of life, and communities along the route, Hak said.
Upon reaching Phnom Da Temple, the cyclists participated in a green initiative, planting 600 peacock flower trees along both sides of the road leading to the historic site.
This practical initiative contributes to promoting a greener environment and enhancing the beauty of the tourism area, Hak said.
Tourism remains one of Cambodia's four economic pillars, alongside agriculture, construction and real estate, and manufacturing exports. However, the nation welcomed just 1.75 million foreign visitors in the first half of this year, a 47.9 percent drop from the 3.36 million recorded during the same period last year.
Hak attributed this sharp downturn to compounding challenges, including negative publicity, technology-enabled scam networks, border friction with Thailand, and Middle Eastern geopolitical conflicts that have driven up fuel prices and dampened international travel demand. ■