26 November 2001
BANGKOK - An official decree ordered by Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen, which bans indefinitely the opening of entertainment establishments, will have no direct affect on the business of hotels and restaurants, said hoteliers.
The order, which came into force on Friday, closing all karaoke parlours, bars, nightclubs and discotheques, is the latest in a line of orders signed by Hun Sen, which claims to protect people from criminal activities associated with such entertainment establishments.
Edwin Bucher, general manager of the Inter-continental Hotel Phnom Penh, told TravelWeekly East the ban would not affect the hotel’s food and beverage outlets.
"Our restaurants and hotel lobby bar, which is open mainly to house guests, will not be affected by this ban," said Bucher.
He added that he did not expect Cambodia’s nascent tourist industry to be affected by the order.
"We advise our guests where they can have a drink and a nice meal. Normally we don’t recommend karaoke bars anyway, because some of them aren’t very safe."
The Sofitel Royal Angkor, located in Siem Reap, said the ban won’t affect their day-to-day business:
"The closure will only affect sleazy karaoke lounges and nightclubs…other pubs and our food and beverage outlets will operate as normal as they are not affected by this ban."
Similar bans in the past have included the banning of strip clubs and casinos in the capital, as well as a ban on miniskirts and tight tops for women on Khmer TV, but few have stood the test of time.
