1,605 establishments in Phnom Penh to Serve Tourism Industry

The tourism industry is booming the kingdom even the hard time of the global economic recession but this country is optimistic to attract more tourists to see the country. At the same time, the facilities for tourism services also increased subsequently.

In Phnom Penh alone, within the 11 months of 2011, 1,605 tourism facilities were registered while visitors keep rising, said Ms. Kim Sovan, deputy director of Phnom Penh Tourism department

Currently, Phnom Penh contains 163 hotels, 415 guests house, 39 apartments, 330 restaurants, 12 Tea Shops, 61 Beer gardens, 40 disco clubs, 11 nightclubs, 129 KTV, 77 Message Shops, 63 Boats, 9 tourist sports, 228 travel agencies, 10 bus transportation companies, and 18 resorts,” Ms. Kim Sovanna, told SEA WEEKLY by phone.

She added among these facilities, only 1,239 facilities received licenses, 10 suspended, 10 closed, and 65 expired, and those tourist facilities employed a total 20,579 staffs of which 11,255 are females.

“We urge those registered entertainments to fully comply with the tourist standardization which was issued by Ministry of Tourism, and the unregistered operational facilities need to immediately register with the Ministry, to response to the Tourism Law enacted on June, 10 2009,” said Ms. Kim.

for nine months of 2011, there were 581,725 inbound tourist from137 nationalities visited Phnom Penh through passing Phnom Penh International Airport and 449,187 of the visitors arrived for relax, recreation, and business tourism purposes, and 69,614 traders, 21,587 delegates, and 41,614 are Cambodian citizen living abroad,” the report from the municipality tourism office said.

The quantity increased 65,523 persons equal to 12.69 percent rise f comparing to the same period in 2010, it added.

78,224 Chinese tourists stood at the first row of tourist arrival with an increase of 7,375 persons, equal to 10.41 percent rise. Korean tourists are second with 40,906 tourists in an increase of 2,734 in about 7.16 percent rise. while Taiwanese figured out 32,075 persons, it increased 2,683 visitors with an increase of 9.12 percent , and the American ranked 4th with 46,976 travelers, 1,162 citizens upsurge equaled to 2,53 percent.

Report from tourism office said 66,057 tourists visited Wat Phnom from 36 nationalities with a decreasing of 1,460 persons in about 2.16 percent. The report also highlighted that 179,938 tourists visited Cheung Ek Killing Field while 143,066 inbound tourists included. 36,761 Cambodians visited and 111 members of delegates and it increased 7,841 persons in about 4.55 percent.

But the data marked a mild fall in domestic tourists visiting Phnom Penh ’s resorts within these nine early months with only 212,435 persons and it decreased 39,273 persons if comparing to 2010 period in about 15.6 percent fall.

Apparently, the Kingdom’s Capital covers by 18 prominent resorts of historical, amused, and attraction characteristics, such as Wat Phnom, Chueng Ek Killing Field, Toul Sleng Genocidal Museum, Royal Palace, National Museum, Cham Ka Prinh amusement park, and many other minor attractions such as markets, and parks.

“We create teams to strengthen tourism services, hygiene, and environment at each facility in the city in aiming at improving the standard to attract more arrivals,” Khim said, adding, “We advice to hotels and guesthouses to notice guest identities to avoid terrorists, drug smugglers, human trafficking, gangsters,”.

Restaurant association

President of Cambodian Restaurant Association (CRA), Van Porleng, said that the association was established in February, 2010, and currently registered 40 members with 65 outlets in the country and it is a wide range of opportunities to open restaurant here, and the restaurant is growing fast as more tourists come and they like to eat.

“In Cambodia, it is easy to open restaurant, and we notice there is restaurant evolution in this country now, many buffet restaurants established with good price and good taste,” said Van said, adding that not only in Phnom Penh that the food industries are booming, but also at some potential region like Siem Reap province, and Shihanouk Ville.

The price of food in Cambodia is not expensive compared to Singapore or Malaysia , “People eat full in Cambodia just pay on average $5-6, where you will pay on average from 15 Singaporean dollars or more just to get enough in Singapore .”

In term of the use of MSG-monosodium glutamate to flavor the dishes, she observes more Cambodian restaurants stop using such ingredient as they realize its danger to health.

“They need to insure hygiene and refreshment service standards to attract customers, especially the international ones.” she stresses

She appeals to the Ministry of Tourism to have easier, clearer, and faster licensing process as it also discourages investors to install their refreshment businesses in the country.

“Our first priority is to bring the food and hospitality industry to be the best one in Cambodia as it will attract more foreign visitors,” Ms. Van emphasized. “To promote the restaurant industry in Cambodia , CRA implements four main activities to help promote this sector which related to education, business operation, communication, public sector and the government.”

Ms Khim said the Ministry of Tourism would love to see more unities expand to minor services like taxi, tuk tuk and to share benefits equally as tourism will inject huge benefits to people, and only few incomes received by the government,” she stressed. “So we want to facilitate them sharing benefits equally.” She said few difficulties have been found in tourism development in Phnom Penh , and more potential prevails.

“I believe next year, when Cambodia chairs ASEAN, more and more visitors will pledge to Cambodia and mainly to Phnom Penh including those who are delegates,” she addressed toward the ASEAN chairmanship in attracting more visitations.

“We will improve our managements in security, public order, hygiene, and environment for our attractions to welcome them,” she said. Phnom Penh ’s responsibilities to Host ASEAN major meetings in 2012, Phnom Penh Major H.E. Kep Chuktema said: “the city hall has already set up planning as the Capital will welcome major ASEAN summits and related meetings.”

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