Food craze takes hold in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH The Restaurant Association of Cambodia says the more restaurants are opening in Phnom Penh and popular tourist destinations as local resident see an opportunity to cash in the tourism boom

Khmer Times quoted the association president, Kouch Sokly, as saying there were more than 2,500 restaurants, nationwide, registered with the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Tourism.

Close to 1,000 restaurants are in Phnom Penh, while the balance are in provinces such as Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Battambang and Kampong Cham, that attract tourism.

On the average, urban Cambodians spend at least USD7 on food and drinks each time they eat out, the president added.

The country’s restaurant sector could have a turnover of between USD300 million to USD400 million a year, he said.

Ministry of Tourism has recently introduced a new ranking standards system in an effort to boost the quality of goods and service venues across the country.

The ranking standards will also strengthen human resources and skills, according to Tourism Minister Thong Khon.