Often we are asked what are you, NGO?, Business?, Charity? 

So lets clarify exactly what is Marine Conservation Cambodia:

We are what we like to call a hybrid business organization. Originally MCC was to become an NGO, but lack of financial donor support left the original organization with no other option than to find a different method of funding to address the urgent needs of marine conservation around the Islands and to support the community we fell in love with.

So we looked for sustainable funding from tourism, we became a business run by people who would rather see their money put towards conservation and communities than anywhere else. We are not an NGO and do not receive any external or donor funding nor do we receive any of the benefits that NGO's receive.

We had to work twice as hard as a standard business to create Marine Conservation Cambodia by developing both a business to create funding and at the same time implementing conservation and community projects and developing a strategy to address the current problems affecting both the coastal environment and coastal communities in the same way as an NGO.

This might sound like a strange concept for a business but it is the fundamental concept of sustainable tourism. To focus also on benefiting local communities and conservation. We choose to make the largest share of the money made available for the conservation and community projects, and then take it one step further by blending the concept of an NGO and Business together.

All of our work and the achievements we have made over the past few years are paid for from tourism, our ability to offer for free our expertise and services in support to the local and national government of Cambodia and local authorities is subsidized by profits from tourism.

Our achievements, successes and current projects prove beyond doubt that sustainable tourism can be implemented in coastal Cambodia.

It is easy for some to say that we make money from conservation, Yes we do and also from tourism. If we did not then the achievements so far would not have been possible and the assistance we lend to local and national authorities would also not have been possible. Money from conservation eco-tourism for conservation a win win situation.

You only need to talk with the local communities surrounding us and the relevant organizations and authorities that we have assisted over the past two years, to fully understand that the concept of (sustainable tourism) business for conservation, communities and profit works. We hope our model highlights the benefits that could be achieved if more businesses adopted a more holistic approach and gave back to the Country who's resources they profit from.