Sea Festival Hotel Concerns

KHMER TIMES
SUM MANET

The three-day Sea Festival in Sihanoukville, between December 17 and 19, is expected to attract more than 500,000 visitors KT/ Fabien Mouret

More than 500,000 visitors are expected to attend the annual Sea Festival in Preah Sihanouk province this December, leading to concerns by tourism officials about room availability for all of them.

The fifth iteration of the annual event, which moves between coastal cities, includes cultural and sporting events aimed at both local and international visitors, explained provincial tourism director Taing Sochet. However he said the high numbers of expected visitors for the three-day event between December 17 and 19, what is traditionally high-season in Sihanoukville, could potentially become an issue.

“The rooms for visitors to stay is our concern. About 30 to 40 percent of [Cambodian visitors] will stay in their relatives’ houses. Since we have about 8,000 rooms in hotels and guesthouses, which is not enough, there is concern,” he told Khmer Times.

Mr. Sochet added that officials were expecting the price of rooms to increase due to the expected shortage.

“We will not ban [service providers] from hiking the price during the event, but any price rises should be limited and to a point that is still acceptable.”

He admitted that there was still much work to be done to prepare the province for the festivities, including ensuring sufficient security, renovating parks and roads and ensuring cleanliness.

Ho Vandy, secretary-general of the National Tourism Alliance, told Khmer Times that the high number of visitors was due to more disposable income amongst Cambodia’s growing middle class. He called on provincial authorities to ensure prices remained affordable, and that litter was removed, in order to provide the best experience for visitors.

“The authorities should provide a high-level security to all visitors, and tourism industry service providers should not hike the price of products to be higher than normal. The environment surrounding the event should be clean and rubbish bins must be deployed for the public,” Mr. Vandy said.

According to a recent press release by the Tourism Ministry, infrastructure renovation and construction will be completed by mid-November.

The release says that two pedestrian-only walkways for are being prepared for visitors, with events taking place in at least three of the main beaches in the city.