Cambodia's tourism department is looking into the possibilities of reducing tourist zones in the country that allow smoking. The move came amid increasing calls from activists pushing for change in the country's tourism sector.
According to the Khmer Times, the Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP) reported on Monday that the plan to reduce smoking zones was discussed by respective authorities, government officials, and anti-smoking advocates.
As part of the efforts to improve tourism in Cambodian cities, tourism minister Thong Khon confirmed during the SEATCA's 7th Asia Pacific Smoke-Free conference that the government will work on increasing smoke-free sites.
To kick off the smoke-free tourism zone initiative, Thong said Siem Reap will be the starting point. Pub Street, in particular, will be the first cleanup area that will be transformed into a non-smoking tourism site.
The other locations that were raised during the conference as potential sites for smoke-free zones are as follows: Phnom Penh, Battambang, Kampot, Kep, Preah Sihanouk, and Koh Kong.
However, Pub Street will be the first to receive the cleanup drive since it is one of the top tourist locations in the Kingdom and it also has some of the most popular entertainment and business districts in the country.
Calls for stricter regulations on smoking emerged earlier this year after advocates called for a smoking ban on Cambodian airports. The calls were made by both locals and tourists who love traveling to the Kingdom.
In July, a study on Cambodia's tobacco use indicated that 15,000 people die yearly in the country due to smoking-related health problems. The study further revealed that the local economy is losing an estimated $663.5 million (3 percent of the overall GDP) annually due to smoking.
Researchers acknowledged the government's efforts in pushing for the adaptation of laws that should decrease the country's use of tobacco and e-cigarettes. However, they said implementation of the laws is still more critical than the introduction of laws itself.
Some industry analysts noted that while banning smoking in Cambodian tourism zones may have a short-term impact on the sector, it will bear good fruits shortly since more and more people are becoming conscious of their health and the impact of tobacco smoke on the environment.
Cambodia's tourism sector sees millions of visitors from other Asian countries. China tops the list of foreign tourists patronizing the Kingdom's tourist locations. Vietnam comes in second, as the country increased its tourism to the country by 10 percent in the first three quarters.
Among the top airports that saw an influx in Asian tourists are those in Sihanoukville, Siem Reap, and Phnom Penh, with the latter topping the list.
