Phnom Penh’s governor and the Minister of Tourism said Monday they are working together to beautify the city in preparation for a large tourism conference scheduled for 2003.
The Asean Tourism Forum is expected to bring about 1,500 international guests to Phnom Penh, Tourism Minister Veng Sereyvuth said, making it necessary for the Ministry of Tourism and city government cooperate.
Governor Chea Sophara wants to clean up both the city and its reputation. Phnom Penh can help by providing land for a new $5 million exhibition hall across the river from the Royal Palace, Chea Sophara said.
“The city has land but no money for construction,” he said, adding that the Tourism Ministry will use money it has or will collect to build the center. The new building is expected to cover about 9,000 square meters and include 450 exhibition booths, a large meeting hall, board rooms and other offices.
Buyers, sellers, international politicians and journalists are all expected to attend the tourism conference, which will last seven to 10 days, Veng Sereyvuth said.
Everyone already considers Siem Reap a popular destination, Veng Sereyvuth said. But the lesser known capital could benefit from the exposure provided by the conference, he said, calling it the “Royal Phnom Penh City.”
The city’s reputation has been marred by the 1997 factional fighting, reports of violence and a hijacking of a tourist boat bound for Siem Reap. Two bomb explosions in the heart of downtown Phnom Penh last week further hurt the city’s image of the city, businessmen say.
