Support Local Tourism - Visit the Kratie Dolphins

[CEOCambodiaNews]

Come visit Kratie !

Support the local economy. Cambodia's natural tourist attractions are feeling the pinch with the borders closed to international visitors. But if you are living in Cambodia, now is the perfect time to explore the country and to enjoy the peace and quiet before the tourists come back.

Tourists Urged to Visit Kratie’s Irrawaddy Dolphins
AKP Phnom Penh, June 30, 2020 --
Both national and foreign tourists have been urged to visit Irrawaddy dolphins in Kratie province, among other local tourism destinations.

Considered as an endangered species throughout Asia, dolphins inhabit along the Mekong River in Kratie province and the freshwater dolphin areas are the most attractive tourism landscape in the province, attracting sights of tourists who pass by the province.

Mr. Chan Sokunthy, Director of Kratie Provincial Tourism Department, said on June 30 that tourists can enjoy the activities of freshwater dolphins’ swimming from the banks of river or get on the tour boats to be close to the swimming area of dolphins.

“There are many iconic tourism destinations in the province, both cultural and natural, but the dolphin areas (Anlong Trey Psot Kampi in Khmer) is the most attractive tourism destination,” Mr. Sokunthy said in a press conference held at the Office of the Council of Ministers.

He called on tourists, particularly domestic tourists to visit Kratie province, mainly to witness the presence of endangered Irrawaddy dolphins in the Mekong River.
AKP

[truffledog]

Let the dolfins recover by themselves and watch a TV documentary about them as long as they are endangered spieces. Any kind of tourism will only harm them.

[Yerg]

They're a pretty resilient and resourceful bunch, those dolphins. So long as visitors don't damage the habitat, it is easy enough for the dolphins and tourists to co-exist. I was lucky enough to visit a dolphin sanctuary a couple of years ago, where tourists could come to see them. The dolphins swooping amongst the boats, cresting in front of the bow, was a sight to behold. One of my greatest memories. All the boats and captains were licensed. At last point of checking, the dolphin pop. at that particular sanctuary was up & growing healthily. I hope Kratie can do the same.

[Anchor Moy]

Let the dolfins recover by themselves and watch a TV documentary about them as long as they are endangered spieces. Any kind of tourism will only harm them.

The problem is that a lot of local fishermen and their families rely on the (very small and restricted ) tourism that the dolphins bring. It's not ideal, but it means that local communities are invested in protecting the dolphins. When outsiders come in to the dolphin feeding area to fish they are chased off by locals.
I've been up there to Kratie- Kampi a few times, and the dolphin-watching is really a small scale tourism business which employs small boats only, and the fishermen are respectful of the dolphins, because they don't want to scare them off. The most boats I've seen at one time out there over the last 12 years or so, were maybe 6-8 boats with 4-5 people in peak season, scattered over a large area of the Mekong. The river is really wide there and is full of islands so 6-8 boats are a relatively small nuisance. Of course, it would be better to leave the dolphins in peace, but someone has to pay for that.

[truffledog]

Let the dolfins recover by themselves and watch a TV documentary about them as long as they are endangered spieces. Any kind of tourism will only harm them.

The problem is that a lot of local fishermen and their families rely on the (very small and restricted ) tourism that the dolphins bring. It's not ideal, but it means that local communities are invested in protecting the dolphins. When outsiders come in to the dolphin feeding area to fish they are chased off by locals.
I've been up there to Kratie- Kampi a few times, and the dolphin-watching is really a small scale tourism business which employs small boats only, and the fishermen are respectful of the dolphins, because they don't want to scare them off. The most boats I've seen at one time out there over the last 12 years or so, were maybe 6-8 boats with 4-5 people in peak season, scattered over a large area of the Mekong. The river is really wide there and is full of islands so 6-8 boats are a relatively small nuisance. Of course, it would be better to leave the dolphins in peace, but someone has to pay for that.

I completely agree that the local fishermen and their families depend on the dolfin business, some may even have stopped dynamite fishing which was a common practice before the tourist business arrived. So tourism may also have a good side. It just needs to put the dolfins interests first when talking about an endagared species and conservation of nature. But thats not the case IMHO.

There is already a lot of business which dont harm/disturb the dolfins. Accomodation, renting motorbikes, tuk tuk fees, food and drinks, viewing platforms, parking fees, wooden and plastic souvenirs all bring a lot of money to the locals (not enough?).

But I dont see how chasing dolfins with a motor boat is of any good to the animals (ok the engine is turned off once close to the dolfins) Most boats I have seen had just 2 people on board whilst having place for 8-10. Just to make more bucks and share the rides (polluting double and triple) instead of preserving nature. Not ideal when visiting an area that should be focussing on conservation.

The boat trips are just good to the selfish tourists who want to be as close as possible and take picture/videos to feed the socials. This desire will ultimately contribute to their end. Spotting the dolfins from the river bank seems not enough for most visitors. Futher promoting the business will ultimately lead to large groups arriving in dedicated tour busses with devastating impact. In the short run some people wíll get rich(er), in the longterm the dolfins are doomed if this should happen. And it probably will considering that the road to Kratie has been improved a lot taking a lot less time to get there and away.