Information minister Neth Pheaktra (centre) leads a delegation to visit the tri-border region on August 30. Neth Pheaktra
Government officials have inspected border areas and established an online system for registering participation in upcoming trips to the northern provinces of Ratanakkiri, Mondulkiri, Kratie and Stung Treng, which are part of the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-DTA). Registration will begin early next week.
Government spokesperson Pen Bona, along with a team from the Ministry of Information and the National Authority in Charge of Border Affairs (NACBA), visited the area on Friday, August 30, to prepare for the upcoming tours.
He told The Post that the government will announce the registration process for these outings this weekend or early next week, which can be completed using a QR code.
Recently, Prime Minister Hun Manet instructed the information ministry to organise the excursions, with the government providing free transportation and meals for participants. They will occur every weekend starting in September and continuing until the end of 2024.
Ministry spokesperson Tep Asnarith told The Post that the purpose of these trips is to provide citizens, especially the youth, with additional knowledge about Cambodia's geography, socio-economic development activities and government initiatives in the region.
He said the outings also aim to educate the public about the realities of national protection and sovereignty, allowing them to witness the area's tourism potential and the development within the communities.
"Additionally, organising these trips will help inspire a love for the land, homeland and country, especially encouraging youth to actively participate in protecting territorial integrity, ensuring national sovereignty remains stable, and contributing to sustainable development,” he said.
Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, praised these tours as a positive initiative, noting that neighbouring countries have been organising similar activities for a long time.
However, he stressed the importance of clear explanations from guides, particularly regarding border markers and maps. He emphasised that the guides should be well-trained and knowledgeable.
He also pointed out that in the future, the government may not be able to continue holding such tours due to the high costs involved. Therefore, he encouraged schools and institutions to consider organising similar trips for their students.
At the same time, there has been a surge in donations for the "Foundation for Border Infrastructure Development," with over 250,000 people contributing more than $11 million as of August 29, just four days after the foundation's announcement on August 26.
Peou sees this as a reflection of the people's trust and love for the land, as well as their confidence in the government's efforts to protect the borders.
