Sihanoukville  – At much as $1 billion in tourism investment is going into Cambodia’s 443 kilometer coast, filling a hotel and resort gap between Thailand and Vietnam. Etienne Chenevier, a veteran French developer in Cambodia, is joining with Alila Hotels & Resorts to build a five-star hotel and villa resort on Koh Russey Island, off the coast near Sihanoukville. The first phase of this $70 million project opens this December.

The resort plans indicate a total of 143 villas, with 150 rooms.   It will be a very green place; a Singapore-based Thai landscape architect will be overseeing the selective clearing and planting. Between the villas as much of the existing vegetation will be kept as possible.

With direct international flights planned to Sihanoukville from Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in the future, beach tourism in Cambodia looks like it may soon see a significant rise in demand. Source: Focus Asia