Cambodia to rank quality

PHNOM PENH Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism has introduced new set of rankings in an effort to boost the quality of goods and service venues across the country.

Cambodia Daily media reported that the tourism ministry has unveiled a new system, last week, to rank the quality of service at restaurants, entertainment establishments such as bars and clubs, and event venues such as conference halls.

Clubs, karaoke parlors and beer gardens will be grouped in one category, receiving up to a maximum of three ‘orchid’ icons on a ministry-assigned certificate.

Restaurants will be eligible for one to five stars, while events venues will receive a certificate of recognition, the report said.

Tourism Minister, Thong Khon, was quoted saying that the rankings would create quality as well as to strengthen human resources and skills.

The goal, he said, was to create a “One Service, One Standard” to ensure certain standards are met across the industry.

“The department will evaluate establishments and conduct onsite evaluations,” he said, adding that in some instances provincial tourism officials would conduct the assessments.

Venues that do not meet basic criteria would not receive endorsement from the government, which by omission would negatively impact on their business appeal when compared with establishments that were ranked, he added.

Cambodia’s tourist arrivals improved 3.4%, January to July this year, according to the Statistics and Tourist Information Department.

The country welcomed 2.75 million international travellers compared to 2.66 million during the same period last year.

Main markets were Vietnam, China, South Korea, Thailand, Laos, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France and Malaysia.