Golden Silver Gulf International Tourism Resort in Ream – the spectacular 3,300 hectare resort set among the stunning backdrops of the sandy beaches of the Cambodian coast and the verdant forested hills near Sihanoukville – is set to become the Kingdom’s premier inclusive holiday destination.

Already boasting a 52-room main resort, private island and beaches, and forest and wetland paths, the vacation complex is set to expand its amenities to include a floating five-star hotel and an 18-hole golf course.

George Chao, the new CEO of Golden Silver Gulf, said that what set the resort apart from others in the Kingdom was its ability to cater for wide range of tourists, from those seeking the best available to those on a budget, and everyone in between.

“We have a number of luxury beach houses and affordable bungalows at our 52-room main resort, with plans to increase this to 60.

“We have also bought a 250-room cruise ship, which we are restoring to act as a five-star hotel, while a new exclusive restaurant on the top of Prince Island will recreate the royal tastes of Cambodia’s 1960s ‘Golden Age’ with authentic recipes created for King Norodom Sihanouk.

“There are plans to build an international standard 18-hole golf course. We are also developing 20 new bungalows near the beach at Prince Island, while 50 Camp Hotels are to be set up right on the beach very soon,” he said.

The Australian said that there are numerous things at Golden Silver Gulf that separate it from the average resort, including many cultural and historical attractions, including the ‘Turtle God’ stones, the ancient ‘Giant Tree’ and Prince Island itself.

“With such a huge site, we are able to have many segments catering to many sectors, while the peace and quiet of the unspoilt forest that surrounds us and the beautiful sandy beaches are obviously among the biggest attractions,” Chao said.

Chao said that with its beautiful natural setting, Golden Silver Gulf strives to exist in harmony with the environment.

“Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. We have always had the utmost concern for the environment, for the forest – we never cut down any big trees, only smaller younger trees can be felled – and the rivers and sea.

Prince Island – also known as Kampouch Island – is one of the resorts biggest draws. Easily accessed from the silver sand beach by a wooden walkway, the island takes its name from a rock formation said to represent the prince in the Cambodian creation story of Preah Thong and Neang Neak.

Facing the “prince” – Preah Thong – is a statue of his beloved wife, the naga princess Neang Neak. Steeped in the references to the tale, Golden Silver Gulf also boasts a Liu Yi Stream – the Chinese name for Neang Neak – with boat journeys available down the mangrove-lined river.

‘Committed to local people’

Reflecting the area’s strong links to the Kingdom’s culture, Chao said the resort – which has been in operation since 2015 – was created with the vision of becoming a famous tourism spot for the Cambodian people, Chao said.

“There are more than 300 people legally allowed to live on the protected Ream National Park where we are situated, and so we are very committed to the local people – and traditionally, 80 to 90 per cent of our visitors are Cambodian.

“We would have a few hundred people every day, pre-Covid, with Prince Island being very popular as it is a really lovely spot. People come without charge to have barbecues and relax,” he said.

And while the Golden Silver Gulf resort’s dedication to the Cambodian people is without doubt, Chao said the time has come to open up its delights to a broader range of visitors – and further support the Kingdom’s tourism sector.

“A lot foreigners are yet to discover what a beautiful and interesting place we have here, and we are making efforts to create amenities to better cater for them. We are set to open a Western-style bar, with Japanese and Western restaurants soon to come.

“We have recently hired two new Western chefs, created Western menus that will certainly to help them to overcome any homesick and feel at home. And we are now working on our food service training to make sure that meet the international standards for both local and overseas tourists.

“The future of the Golden Silver Gulf resort is setting up the best platform for our local staff for them to grow, to be useful for the local community – and to provide the best quality services to support the tourism industry of Cambodia,” Chao said.