By BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA
In order to increase the number of international tourists and create work for Cambodian nationals, the Phnom Penh Municipality plans to develop the city’s infrastructure and create fresh new destinations to delight international tourists of the future.
Kep Chuktema, Governor of Phnom Penh Municipality, said that his organization had big ambitions in developing the city, making it more attractive to international visitors and providing more employment opportunities for the people of the city and beyond.
“According to our Master Plan, we still have areas that can be improved and renovated, all of it contributing to the development of our city and the wider nation,” Chuktema said. “As far as I can tell, Phnom Penh will be subject to these developments for the next 5-10 years.”
Speaking by telephone to the Cambodia Weekly on July 14th, the Governor said the main challenges facing the Municipality would be overcome during the fourth mandate of the Royal Cambodian Government. These activities will include rehabilitation work, environmental protection and traffic calming innovations.
He said, “In the future, we plan to beautify many more gardens, make roads safer for all users, make night markets brighter and introduce new entertainment outlets to the city.”
“The eventual goal of these infrastructure renovations and developments will be a greater number of foreign visitors, as well as expanded employment opportunities for Cambodians,” he added.
Chuktema pointed out that recently, in order to attract tourists and promote progress in Phnom Penh, the Municipality had been paying attention to infrastructure development in Phnom Penh, with the introduction of improved roads, traffic lights and signs, gardens, supermarkets and tourist destinations.
He said that Phnom Penh’s Municipality had also planned to set up hi definition wide screen television screens in six locations throughout Phnom Penh to promote Cambodian business ventures and development.
He added that to date, four of these huge screens had been installed in strategic locations around the city, broadcasting information about Phnom Penh business activities, developments and the nation’s un-miss able tourist attraction sites.
He also described the City’s efforts to establish a night market, situated at the Olympic Stadium along Preah Sihanouk Boulevard in Phnom Penh. Not content with this admirable development, he also spoke of future plans for a further night market in Sangkat Tuol Tumpong, Chamcar Morn district. This new night market is scheduled for opening in early August 2008.
He added that the Phnom Penh Municipality has also behaved as a caring host in taking action to ensure the safety of international tourists and investors during their stay in the city.
Ho Vandy, President of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, said Phnom Penh City has made great progress along the path towards development in the last half-decade.
He said, “I am able to see how the process of development has provided incremental improvement year after year. The roads have been improved to accommodate increased traffic and our electricity supply is much better than it used to be. Perhaps the most important improvement in my opinion has been in levels of security in the city.”
“With this commitment to continued development, progress and beautification, I hope that Phnom Penh will become increasingly attractive to international guests,” he said, speaking to the Cambodia Weekly on July 15.
Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, said that according to 2007 Ministry of Tourism statistics, more than 2 million international tourists visited Cambodia. His ministry estimates that there will be 2.5 million foreign tourists visiting Cambodia in 2008 and is planning on annual increases in this number from this point on.
According to Ho Vandy, up to 60 percent of all international tourists visited Phnom Penh, Kampot and Sihanoukville per year.
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