PHNOM PENH, 28 February 2019: If staying in a squeaky clean town is a top priority, head for Cambodia’s Kampot a sleepy river estuary town on the country’s southern coast.
The town was among the six winners in this year’s National Clean City Competition.
A panel of judges selected the six cleanest cities in Cambodia to represent the country in an ASEAN wide contest that will convene in Brunei next January.
Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district, Kampot city, Kampong Cham city, Pursat city, Takhmao city, and Kampong Chhnang city led the National Clean City Competition, according to a report in Khmer Times that quoted the Tourism Minister Thong Khon who declared the winners.
Kampot with its colonial period architecture and picturesque river setting is also under consideration for UNESCO’s World Heritage listing.
Despite the honour of winning the top six places the cities face further challenges in the upcoming regional stakes. The ASEAN Clean City Competition goes further than clean streets to include public safety, green spaces and the role of community to enhance lifestyle.
Around 70 different criteria were considered in the national competition but that will increase to 108 criteria for the ASEAN edition.
In 2018, Kampot province welcomed 1.6 million tourists, 10% of which were foreign nationals.
