Next wave of layoff after the textile sector: the hotel sector

Thursday, June 18, 2009
N.S.
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

The drop in the number of tourists would lead to the layoff of workers in Siem Reap hotels.

Cambodia’s tourist industry suffers from a severe drop in the number of visitors. In Siem Reap, a wave of layoffs is in the work in several hotels, Pat Sambo, the president of the Raffles Angkor Hotel union and president of the Federation of Workers in the Tourism and Service Sectors, predicted. The fact that these hotels now offer promotions, such as “third night stay free” and that they agree to substantial discount give credentials to this layoff speculation. The economic crisis is hitting this sector, and tourists, who are usually fond of temples, are now endangered species.

At the beginning of June, Thong Khon, the minister of Tourism, declared: “The number of tourists dropped by 14%, during the first four months of the year as compared to the same period in 2008.” This drop is disputed by the union. According to Pat Sambo, Thong Khon’s number is much lower than what actually happens.

Pat Sambo will participate in an International meeting on tourism in Malaysia next 08 July. During the speech he will be giving at this meeting, he will provide an overview of the situation in Cambodia, and he will urge tourists to come discover the kingdom.