Don’t rip off festival fans

28 Mar 2017 2194 | Cambodia Events & Sports

SIEM REAP wCambodia’s Ministry of Tourism has urged tourism operators and related businesses to maintain prices during major festivals.

According to a Khmer Times report Tourism Minister, Thong Khon, threatened to suspend licenses of business owners if they failed to display the correct prices for goods and services over the Khmer New Year, especially during the mid-April Angkor Sankranta celebrations in Siem Reap.

Khmer New Year is celebrated at the same time as Songkran in Thailand that starts on Thursday 13 April. Easter is also celebrated worldwide during the same week.

“All local businesses and tourism providers have a duty to maintain the correct prices to ensure consumers are protected,” the minister said.

He added: “The ministry is issuing this decree to remind all local businesses and tourism services to display prices…we will revoke tourism licenses of those who do not.”

He also called on local businesses to improve service to visitors for the upcoming 5th Angkor Sankranta, which will run from 14 to 16 April in Siem Reap.

Backing the ministry’s decree, Cambodia Association of Travel Agents president Chhay Sivlin said business owners and tourism operators should not take advantage of consumers during festivals by inflating prices.

“It damages the country’s reputation…we have experienced many price increases in the past, which impact domestic and international tourism.”

The president added: “The decree will prevent unfair price increases. And if people do want to increase their prices, they will have to display them so customers can decide whether to accept them or not.”