Cambodia’s leader tours Siem Reap shops as officials seek tourism boost

Prime Minister Hun Manet wore a mask while touring the bars and restaurants of Siem Reap’s Pub Street – a gathering place for foreign tourists visiting Angkor Wat – as he looked for ways to revive Cambodia’s disappointing tourism numbers.

Accompanied by just a handful of security personnel, Hun Manet strolled through shops, stopped for a drink and spoke to tourists and business owners on July 17. He then posted a video and photos to his Facebook account.

He was seeking feedback and possible solutions for Cambodia’s tourism industry, much of which is centered on Angkor Wat and nearby temples in Siem Reap. The industry suffered from a big drop in visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The Ministry of Tourism reported that 2.6 million foreign visitors arrived in Cambodia during the first six months of 2024 – a 22 percent jump compared to the first six months of 2023. Many of those visitors were from neighboring Thailand and Vietnam.

At the Angkor temple complex, entrance tickets brought in $24.4 million during the first half of the year. 

That’s much lower than the $55.7 million earned during the first six months of 2019 – a year before the pandemic. But it was 36.3 percent higher than the same period in 2023, according to Kiripost.

However, the spike in visitors to Angkor over the last year still hasn’t helped tour operators and travel agents recover from the pandemic, several Siem Reap workers told Radio Free Asia.

Businesses in the town’s service sector remain closed and many tourism workers have already obtained jobs in other sectors – or have migrated to Thailand to look for work, according to Kiripost.

“We request the government to do something to attract tourists to help provide jobs for our people in Siem Reap,” said Chhay Rath, who transports tourists in his tuk-tuk, or motorized tricycle.

“According to the Apsara Authority’s ads. there are tourists visiting Siem Reap,” he said. “But in fact, it is not like before. Tuk-tuk drivers like us are having a bad time.” 

Dirty U.S. dollar notes

On Monday, the National Bank of Cambodia announced that Siem Reap Commercial Bank branches must accept old or dirty U.S. currency, without charge to customers. The move is aimed at facilitating spending by tourists, many of whom primarily spend dollars when visiting Cambodia.

The proclamation from Chea Serey, the bank’s governor, came after several shop owners told Hun Manet during last week’s visit about their difficulties in exchanging damaged U.S. dollar notes.

Hun Manet was named prime minister in August 2023. He took over from his father, Hun Sen, who led the country for decades and often used similar tactics – such as driving a motorcycle taxi – in meeting Cambodians in public without prior announcement. 

Social researcher Sek Socheat said Hun Manet’s visit to Pub Street showed that he’s willing to listen to complaints and problems. Low-profile visits could also have a positive effect on local authorities who may be more attentive to their duties, he said.

“This is a necessary aspect that the government, especially the leaders, should be open to providing an equal solution to the people and to bring all injustices to the table,” he said.

RFA was unable to reach Ministry of Tourism spokesman Top Sopheak and Siem Reap provincial Gov. Prak Sophoan Tourism on Monday.

Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed.