New Rural Roads Construction Commences in Cambodia to Boost Eco-Tourism

• Sommana Yan
• 4 July 2025
• Local News
• 1725 Views

The Cambodian government has officially broken ground on three new rural roads in Teuk Phos district, Kampong Chhnang province. This initiative marks a significant step in enhancing the country’s rural infrastructure and supporting eco-tourism, with a total length of 41.10 kilometers planned for the new roads.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by His Excellency Chhay Rithsen, Minister of Rural Development, and H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism. The project is part of the Cambodia Sustainable Landscape and Ecotourism Project (CSLEP), which aims to connect key tourist destinations, including the Thma Khre Waterfall, Sre Ampil Waterfall, and Svay Canyon.

Currently, Cambodia boasts over 50,000 kilometers of rural roads, with 8,527 kilometers already constructed as climate-resilient asphalt and concrete roads, representing nearly 20% of the total rural road network. The newly proposed roads will feature double-deck asphalt and concrete designs, enhancing their durability and accessibility throughout the year. (Read more)

In an exciting development, the project is set to benefit approximately 6,882 families, totaling 28,598 residents, across 12 villages and 4 communes in the region. These improvements are expected to significantly increase tourist visits to the eco-tourism communities, fostering local economic growth.

H.E. Dr. Suos Kong, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Rural Development, highlighted that the CSLEP project will unfold over eight years, from 2019 to 2027. The initiative is funded through a collaboration of the Royal Government of Cambodia, the Global Environment Facility, and the World Bank.

In addition to the construction of roads, the Ministry of Rural Development will also focus on building clean water and sanitation systems in eco-tourism communities across six targeted provinces: Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Siem Reap, Pursat, Koh Kong, and Battambang.

This project not only aims to improve accessibility to vital eco-tourism sites but also to promote sustainable economic benefits for rural communities in Cambodia.

• Road and Infrastructure