The Law is enacted to formulate rules and mechanisms for the governance and development of tourism sector of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The objectives include sustainable and qualitative tourism development, poverty reduction, protection and conservation of natural resources and cultural customs, assurance and promotion of service quality and tourist safety, mitigation of negative impacts, market promotion with public and private sector involvement, development of human resources, and fostering international friendship through tourism. The Law requires the Ministry of Tourism to prepare and oversee national, regional and local Tourism Development Plans and to lead core regulatory areas including promotion, quality assurance, standards, licensing, tourism business activities, stakeholder conduct, information management and international cooperation. It establishes institutional measures including a National Tourism Institute, a Tourism Professional School, a University of Tourism and Hospitality, a Cambodian Tourism Marketing and Promotion Board (public-private partnership), and directs provisions for financing. The Law mandates standards, classification and licensing systems for tourism businesses; introduces quality assurance measures including an Eco-label linked to environmental standards; provides rules on licence issuance, renewal, transfer, temporary licences and appeals; and requires security deposits for travel agents and tour operators. Regulated activities include tour operations, guiding, accommodation, restaurants, transport, attractions, protected areas, ecotourism and community-based tourism. Operators must comply with environmental, food-hygiene, safety, heritage-protection and consumer-information duties; travel businesses must maintain customer-protection security. The Law further provides for public licence registers, judicial appeals, a Tourism Ombudsman Committee, inspections, closure of unlicensed businesses and fines.
Cambodge · 2011-09-19