Cambodia has officially launched the $10 million Kampot International Tourism Port, a strategic infrastructure project designed to drive growth in coastal and island tourism while enhancing maritime transport connectivity. The port was inaugurated by Prime Minister Hun Manet on April 21, 2025, in a ceremony held in Teuk Chhou district, Kampot province. (Source: Xinhua, The Post, April 2025)
ADB-Financed Port to Serve 300-Passenger Vessels
The 4.2-hectare port, financed by a $10 million credit from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), began construction in 2018 and was completed in 2022. With a water depth of 3 meters, the port can handle vessels carrying up to 300 passengers, opening a new chapter in Cambodia’s maritime connectivity.
According to Minister of Public Works and Transport Peng Ponea, the port is part of a broader push to modernize Cambodia’s 119 total ports, which include 31 sea ports and 88 river ports across the country.
“The port will boost the tourism sector in the province, contributing to improving the local economy and people’s livelihoods,” Prime Minister Hun Manet said.
Island Access and Regional Connectivity
The port is designed to serve domestic and international tourists, with waterway links already established to popular island destinations like Koh Rong, Koh Rong Sanloem, and Koh Sdach. According to the Prime Minister, the new facility also enables seaborne tourist arrivals from Thailand and Vietnam, further reinforcing Kampot’s role in regional tourism circuits.
Coastal Tourism on the Rise
During the trial phase between February 15 and April 15, the port served nearly 7,000 passengers. In the first quarter of 2025, Kampot welcomed nearly 600,000 visitors, including over 50,000 international tourists, and saw a surge to 1.3 million tourists during the Khmer New Year celebrations.
Thourn Sinan, President of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Cambodia Chapter, said the new port could be a game changer for coastal tourism and cruise ship travel, offering faster, more efficient connections between Cambodia’s four southwestern coastal provinces: Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep, and Koh Kong.
“This is a historic moment for Kampot. This project unlocks a new tourism gateway,” said Say Sinol, Director of Kampot’s Department of Tourism.
A Symbol of Strategic Partnerships and National Development
Hun Manet framed the port as part of Cambodia’s broader infrastructure development policy, executed under partnerships with multilateral institutions like the ADB. He also responded to political critics, reiterating that Cambodia’s foreign policy is independent, choosing to maintain positive ties with both China and the U.S., based on mutual respect and the rule of law.
The Prime Minister highlighted the Royal Government’s ongoing efforts to build infrastructure that benefits citizens, improve service delivery, and address gaps in connectivity and development.
