Hotels told to give back beaches

PHNOM PENH  Cambodia government will crack down on hotels and resorts that restrict public access to beaches, or construct buildings within 50 metres of the shoreline.
Phnom Penh Post quoted Tourism Minister Thong Khon saying the ministry will give private companies a deadline to remove fences or buildings that violate a government directive that ensures all beaches in the Kingdom remain public property with full access to the public.
“We’re talking about an area extending 50 metres to the sea, which belongs to the public… this applies everywhere, including on islands and land that hotels have illegally claimed. We already have a directive, but it hasn’t been implemented.”
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There is often confusion on the exact boundaries of the 50 metre rule, whether it should be measured from the high or low-tide mark.
Most hotel owners simply disregard the rule on boundaries and access believing their wealth and connections will give them immunity from prosecution.
Cambodia’s coastal area is the country’s second-biggest tourism draw and the government and private sector must work together to manage its resources, the minister said.
Several beaches along Cambodia’s coastline have been designated as private beaches by their resort and hotel owners, a move that angers local communities especially fishing villages that traditionally believe they have access to beaches.
Sihanoukville is the most popular beach town in Cambodia with many examples of encroachment by restaurants and hotels.
However, staff at the Independence Hotel in Sihanoukvile denied that the hotel restricts public access to its beach, claiming non-guests could request permission to use the beach, local media reported.
Having to ask permission cold be interpreted as recognising the hotels may have some authority, or rights to control access to beaches.
According to the ministry’s update, it has issued tourism licenses to 235 hotels (15,239 rooms), 247 guest houses (6,694 rooms), 111 restaurants and 29 other tourism entertainment service places.
During January to September this year, coastal areas shared just 12.7% of trips to the main destinations attracting 492,499 visits but increasing 15.2% from 427,477 visits during the same period last year.

sourced:ttrweekly.com