Little Profit Despite Tourism Growth

The average Cambodian citizen has yet to see the benefits of the country’s growing tourism industry.
Despite a large increase in foreign tourists and tourism-generated revenue, Cambodia’s poverty-stricken population is seeing very few of the profits, according to sources familiar with the industry. The country’s minister of tourism, Tong Khon, said recently that the number of foreign tourists visiting Cambodia in the first nine months of 2010 had risen nearly 15 percent to 1.8 million from a year ago.

“The increase of tourists is due to our many important tourist attractions, such as the ancient ruins of the Angkor Wat complex, our beaches, and our eco-tourism, as well as attractions in the southwest regions of the country,” he said.

He also cited the rare freshwater dolphins of the Mekong River and mangrove forests of Koh Kong as large tourist draws, adding that improved road infrastructure, increased security, and economic recovery in Asia had all contributed to the growth of the Cambodian tourist industry. A recent report from the Department of Tourism said income from tourism now accounts for 10 to 12 percent of Cambodia’s nearly U.S. $11 billion Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Sourced=rfa