Eco-tourists made to leave
An eco-tourism initiative in Mondulkiri hit a snag this week when authorities asked management to vacate overnight guests while provincial officials determine whether the project is properly licensed to operate a guesthouse.
Guests of the Elephant Valley Project (EVP), which is located in a Forestry Administration protected area in Mondulkiri’s Sen Monorom town while staff resolve the matter with local officials, said Jack Highwood, manager at EVP.
The local government’s move came after it received more than five complaints from elephant tourism operators and guesthouses that say Elephant Valley has been siphoning off tourism income since its establishment in 2005, said Phou Rin, commune clerk of Sen Monorom’s Romnea commune. …
Sean Teehan and Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/eco-tourists-made-leave
