{"id":2545,"date":"2015-01-17T06:00:59","date_gmt":"2015-01-16T23:00:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pharecircus.org\/?p=2545"},"modified":"2022-09-22T14:07:42","modified_gmt":"2022-09-22T07:07:42","slug":"responsible-tourism-cambodia-song-saa-private-island","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pharecircus.org\/responsible-tourism-cambodia-song-saa-private-island\/","title":{"rendered":"Responsible Tourism Cambodia \u2013 Song Saa Private Island"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Emily Martin<\/em><\/p>\n

Responsible Tourism Cambodia \u2013 Song Saa Private Island<\/h2>\n

The \u201cResponsible Tourism Cambodia\u201d blog series is concentrating on high-quality businesses who are dedicated to their social responsibility in Cambodia. All of these businesses focus on responsible tourism and are supporters of Phare and our social mission.<\/p>\n

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Song Saa is a private island hideaway off the coast of Cambodia. Most of the islands in the Gulf of Thailand remain undeveloped and are covered in rainforests, tropical reefs and glistening white beaches.<\/p>\n

\u2018Song Saa\u2019 is Khmer for \u2018The Sweethearts\u2019 and if you\u2019re looking for a place to escape the world for a few days, this is the place to lose yourself in nature. It\u2019s Cambodia\u2019s first private island luxury resort\u2026 but it\u2019s also built on the foundations of the Song Saa Foundation and their dedication to conservation and community work.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Song Saa family is setting new standards for sustainable tourism in Cambodia, and we take great pride in fostering local talent and providing young Cambodians with world-class skills in a range of hospitality areas.\u201d Says Wayne McCallum, executive director of the foundation.<\/p>\n

The Song Saa Foundation was formally registered on the 4th<\/sup> of April 2013, however, many of its programmes were initiated before this \u2013 since the resort opened. The idea of a resort built with sustainability and responsible tourism in mind was started by Song Saa\u2019s co-founders, Rory and Melita Hunter.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen they first journeyed to the Koh Rong archipelago, in 2005, they took inspiration from the beauty of its islands and the smiles of its people\u2026 the programme conserves these values. They established the Archipelago\u2019s first marine reserve and solid waste management centre.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon after this new initiatives started developing and now they support and promote the development of not just their own piece of paradise but the sea, land and people around Koh Rong.<\/p>\n

Education<\/strong> \u2013 At the forefront of the Foundation\u2019s education endeavors is the \u2018Boat of Hope\u2019 project, which entails the conversion of a traditional Cambodian fishing boat into a mobile education and marine research centre. The Foundation\u2019s youth education initiative, the Song Saa Sea Turtles, meanwhile, reaches out to the island\u2019s young people, helping them to become the conservationists of the future.<\/p>\n

Environment<\/strong> \u2013 With a legacy of pioneering marine reserve management in Cambodia, the Foundation continues to nurture and support endeavors to protect the archipelago\u2019s unique ocean environments. Collaborating with local fisheries groups to promote the sustainable management of marine life and supporting the studies of Cambodian university students are just two ways that this is being achieved.<\/p>\n

Community<\/strong> \u2013 The Foundation is exploring options to extend its solid waste management programme, while working alongside villagers to support new employment opportunities. At the hub of this work is the Sala Song Saa Sustainability Centre, which operates as a training and education facility. Organic gardening and fish farming are two of the innovative projects being trialed at the Centre.<\/p>\n

Other initiatives include on-going English classes, yoga classes, training in community hygiene and welfare, as well as detailed vocational training.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes good corporate and ethical sense. By investing in communities and the environment you are sustaining the social and physical capital upon which your investment is built. From an ethical sense it aligns with our beliefs, those of us who work for the Song Saa ‘family’ about how we should work and live in the world,\u201d says Wayne McCallum.<\/p>\n

\u201cThrough commitment we can ensure that the land and sea resources of the Koh Rong archipelago are sustained for future generations to enjoy.\u201d\u00a0 Rory and Melita Hunter (co-founders of the resort and foundation)<\/p>\n

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