The Cambodian Tourism Minister is looking to learn from the Noosa Biosphere model and apply best practice approaches to sustainable tourism in the KEP Province which is three hours south of Phnom Penh, Chair of Noosa Biosphere and Tourism Noosa Mr Michael Donovan said today.

Mr Donovan has recently returned from representing Noosa at a conference titled ‘Sustainable and Responsible Development of KEP Tourism City in Coastal Zone, Cambodia’ where he gave the keynote address to more than 180 national and international delegates.

The audience included Cambodia’s regional Governor, Secretary of State, Minister for Tourism and representatives from 15 other countries.

Mr Donovan said the two day conference allowed him to share information regarding the Noosa experience in sustainability, community governance and tourism.

“Education is one of the three primary objectives of a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, alongside conservation and sustainable development, and it was a privilege to be invited,” Mr Donovan said.

“The KEP Province in Cambodia has many natural assets that they wish to conserve, alongside their aspirations of a viable and economically sustainable tourism industry.”

The visit was the result of a personal invite from the Cambodian Minister for Tourism, after the Minister’s successful visit to the Noosa Biosphere late last year.

Mr Donovan donated his time and was the guest of the Cambodian Minister, at no cost to either Noosa organisations.

“The collaborative relationship between the Noosa Biosphere Reserve and the KEP province is growing stronger every day,” he said.

“However, I stressed to the Tourism Minister that they shouldn’t just copy what we have done, they should do what is good for them based on their own culture and location.”

Mr Donovan was joined by Sunshine Coast locals, Professors Bill Carter and Gayle Meyers from the University of the Sunshine Coast as well as Kym Cheatham, CEO Eco-tourism Australia, also guest speakers at the conference.

CAPTION: From left, KEP Manager of Tourism, Professor Bill Carter, Michael Donovan, Professor Gayle Meyers, Representative of Ministry of Tourism