Nature is being threatened by human hands and definitely needs our help, no matter what they do, there always the consequences that may affect them and the whole world.
Ecotourism, what does that mean? At the first time involving in this exploration, I didn’t know what Ecotourism means. Do you know what does that mean? Until our facilitator, Teacher Bunthan, explained us with an ecotourism website, video and pictures. Ecotourism is the tour that brings the tourists into a green world, nature. In addition, Ecotourism has many advantages for the lives of people, nature, and animals. Unfortunately, a few areas in Cambodia are getting hurt by the people for their own purposes. That is making up the goal of our exploration is to preserve the natural resources that we do not want to let them get away which also means to create an ecotourism site that located in Bangkern Phal village, Romtum commune, Rovieng district, Preah Vihear province. There is also an indigenous community living there so it could be attractive to the tourists and we also keep the tradition by letting others know and understand.
In order to make this project going to succeed, all of us have interviewed both 
tourists and the villagers over there.
We had three different trips and each trips had different purpose. The first trip that we have been to is Chambok. Chambok is an ecotourism site in Kampong Speu province that has been created by Mlup Baitong organization. We went there to learn more about Chambok so we could understand more information about ecotourism. Then I have realized that ecotourism is also with the community which means that we also show the tourists how the community looks and what is the potential there in the community. Moreover there are many more activities that including in ecotourism too such as Khmer traditional dance show, hiking up the mountain, and cook the traditional cake. We had so much fun there while we also learn many new things that we didn’t know before. As my own experience, the first trip really made me understand a lot more about ecotourism and business skill as well. After that, we discussed with each other again about the next step of the project. Therefore, we decided to do the survey the tourists inside the city. Plus some places that we have selected to, which were Wat Phnom, Tuol Sleng Museum, and Independent monument were considered having many foreign tourists over there. We have created the Google form for survey the tourists so it would be easier for us to see the responses and number of people. During the survey, I was learning something new too. At first, I was a little afraid in talking to the tourists but after I tried talking many times I’ve been becoming better. The tourists are so friendly so it made me want to talk with them. Overall, we have interviewed 253 people. We found out that 209 of 253 would love to visit our ecotourism after the project exist. While the others are not sure and do not want to go. After all, we have done with the step of survey the tourists so we have a discussion again about the next step. Therefore, we will go to the indigenous community to explain them about our project and ask for their opinions. On the day 1 of our trip to Bangkern Phal village, Rumtom commune, Rovieng district, Preah Vihear province, we had a presentation about what is and the data about the survey form. We are proud of yourself because we let them understand what is ecotourism and they did understand well after the presentation. They also listened to s carefully so they can be in touch of everything we have explained. I was so nervous when I presented to them because there are many people ans I need to use microphone but then I suddenly just talked without worried. We’ve also let them discuss in a small team and let them presented about their opinions of the impact of ecotourism. Most of them have presented with the positive impacts but there are also some negative impacts to the community. Day two, we have walked around the village to interviewed the villagers. They are so friendly which made us smile and laugh together. A lot of them said they definitely love our project and they want that to occur in the future. At the end of the exploration, we did a report so the round 2 students can read and understand what have we done in round 1.
All in one, this exploration has taught me many new things that I have never try before including business skill, being friendly to people, environment and much more. I hope that this project will exist in the future with our effort into that because we can solve some problems in the community such as preserve the forest, and getting the indigenous community attractive to the tourists . At last but not least, Ecotourism exploration provided me many skills that I will need for the future.
The Fresh Air
