15 October 2025
By Sum Manet – Khmer Times
Kep has taken another step forward in its tourism development, being officially recognised as a “Smoke-Free Tourist City”, the Ministry of Tourism announced on Tuesday.
The declaration ceremony was presided over by Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism, alongside Som Piseth, Governor of Kep Provincial Administration, and Marianna Trias, WHO Representative to the Kingdom of Cambodia.
The accolade is awarded to cities, districts, or khans that have successfully implemented smoke-free environments in the tourism sector.
The recognition is endorsed not only by the Ministry of Tourism but also by the Smoke-free Cities Asia Pacific Network, the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
The event was attended by some 200 participants, including senior officials from the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Health, relevant provincial departments, as well as representatives from local administrations, tourism operators, youth from the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia (UYFC), and the Cambodian Red Cross youth.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Huot Hak highlighted Kep’s ongoing transformation. “Kep Province has continued to develop and improve its infrastructure, notably the Techo Santepheap Angkol Beach Road, now enhanced with lighting and scenic improvements along Angkol Beach, making it increasingly attractive for both national and international tourists,” he said.
The Minister also underscored the province’s diverse tourism offerings, noting its beautiful beaches, islands, agro-tourism, eco-tourism, and renowned fresh seafood. “Tourism development in Kep has been organised around four key poles: the old town of Kep, Angkol Beach, Phnom Vour, and the province’s archipelago,” he added.
Tourism data from the Kep Provincial Tourism Department shows that between January and August 2025, Kep welcomed over 1 million tourists, including 1,050,488 domestic visitors and 15,769 international arrivals.
Popular attractions included Kep Beach, Koh Tonsay, Phnom Sorsia, and Angkol Beach, with Kep Beach alone receiving 767,354 visitors, Koh Tonsay 32,554, Phnom Sorsia 1,480, and Angkol Beach 264,869 tourists.
The recognition as a smoke-free destination is expected to strengthen Kep’s reputation as a safe, clean, and family-friendly tourism hub, enhancing the province’s appeal to visitors from Cambodia and abroad.