Has Siem Reap done the boom to bust cycle ? The city grew very fast, with a complete reliance on tourist industries driven by the visitors to Angkor Wat, but many of the younger western tourists would come to Siem Reap for the parties and the (in)famous Pub St.
But now, no tourists, no business, no money.
Is this the end of Siem Reap as we knew it ? And where does the the Chinese plan for a new Siem Reap airport and accompanying city fit in ? (Hint: There will be casinos.)
See: post364160.html?hilit=siem%20reap%20chinese#p364160
So, what future for Siem Reap ? The Khmer Times paints a grim picture of a town on its knees...

July 7, 2020
Lights out at Pub Street: Business owners face darkest hour
Harrison White / Khmer Times
Since Siem Reap province publicised “its reopening” last month, the Ministry of Tourism has announced new safety guidelines and codes of conduct for tourism businesses to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and attract domestic tourists.

Khmer Times visited the famous temple town this week to report from the ground the current state of the once-tourism hotspot finding near-apocalyptic scenes with extreme levels of abandoned shop fronts and sense of despair.

The mass exodus of foreign arrivals – due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – arguably has hit the town worse than any other part of the Kingdom.

With business owners along the street now facing the prospect of three to five years of significantly lower arrivals, many have appeared to simply walk away.

Established in the early 1990s after mass tourism came to the Kingdom, Pub Street has brought in much- needed foreign currency from tourists looking to eat and drink after a day spent exploring the temples of Angkor Wat.

It was this foreign currency that turned the street from only a few makeshift bars into the town’s economic powerhouse, bringing much-needed employment into a province still considered as one of the poorest in the country.

However, walking down the famous road last week to interview business owners on the developments since the reopening was announced last month, Khmer Times could not find one business owner or patron to speak to on the main road.

Having to venture off the main road there was a single bar open showing English sports and catering to the few remaining foreigners that live permanently in the town.

While official figures state that as of last month 18 hotels and 96 guesthouses ​in Siem Reap have permanently closed, 172 hotels and 99 guesthouses have temporarily halted operations with only 40 hotels and 66 guesthouses remain fully operational.

It is affecting about 8,000 workers, according to Siem Reap provincial tourism department director Ngov Seng Kak.

Speaking to a local patron who did not disclose their name, Khmer Times was also told anecdotal evidence that most business owners can see the writing on the wall and have chosen to cash in anything of value and have simply packed up shop.

“The town is dead and things seem to be only getting worse. Most people here understand that previous numbers of foreigner arrivals, especially from Europe and America, won’t return for at least the next three to five years and maybe not even then. It is better to cut your losses of $50,000 now then continue to bleed cash with no end date in sight,” a local patron said.

“Most people have already cashed in anything of value such as stock and other equipment and are now looking to other opportunities. Of course, there will still be a market for tourists but nothing near the scale there was before,” he added.

On top of the COVID-19 pandemic, the area is also currently undergoing significant road works implemented by the Minister of Public Works and Transport Sun Chanthol with Siem Reap Provincial Governor Tea Seiha.

With the infrastructure plan launched last month designed to “improve the reputation of the nation on the international stage and attract tourists”. With a large scale construction plan similar to what the government has done for Preah Sihanouk province.

“It is the high time to study the main plan for road infrastructure in Siem Reap city to become like Preah Sihanouk. Siem Reap is a tourism city that can enhance the nation’s reputation on the international map through foreign visitors,” said Chanthol.

Although, for those who have recently visited Sihanoukville will attest, large scale road construction does not make for pleasant surroundings.

With another popular tourist street, Sok San road now left as a dangerous mudslide with large ditches on both sides and potentially live electrical wiring laying along the ground.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50741967/l ... kest-hour/

Everyone take a deep breath and say,,, Flip-flops and back -flips are built into the rules and regulations in Cambodia. It's not only the average man/woman that is hurting but also those in control and sooner or later their pain will result in them making another back-flip.

One more deep breath everyone,,,,, and breath out slowly.

I first went to Siem Reap in 2008 and it was still a small town. Went back 10 years later and it was twice the size. But, all the new constructions were hotels, guesthouses, bars and restaurants for tourists.
As for Pub St., I like a party as much as anyone, but it was really over the top: loud music from every bar, street carts selling low-quality booze, western kids in their swimwear at 10pm totally pissed. And this is all right in the centre of the town, so it was really in your face.
Lol, I sound like my grandma, but late at night it was ugly, reminded me of JJ's bar on Occheuteal beach in Sihanoukville at the time of the "date-rape" drugs, but on a bigger scale with people passing out all over the place (and without the beach.)

So yeah, my vote is good riddance to Pub St. as it was.

My theory is that the Chinese will build a big tourist city around the new airport. It will be kitsch like Las Vegas with plenty of casinos and prostitution. Tour groups and westerners with money will be welcome, but not backpackers. (Too expensive.) The Chinese and Asian tourists will stay in the new city, visit mainly for the casinos and do Angkor Wat as a day trip.
We'll see in 10 years or so if I guessed right.

There’s some great hotels deals and AW is buy a day get two pass now.

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2020 1:11 pm My theory is that the Chinese will build a big tourist city around the new airport. It will be kitch like Las Vegas with plenty of casinos and prostitution. Tour groups and westerners with money will be welcome, but not backpackers. (Too expensive.) The Chinese and Asian tourists will stay in the new city, visit mainly for the casinos and do Angkor Wat as a day trip.
We'll see in 10 years or so if I guessed right.

Doubt it, that already failed in Sihanoukville. There only so much Chinese money to go around and we are in a global recession, the Chinese government is going to focus there money internally and in Africa. I doubt that even half the current projects in Sihanoukville will be finished.

I have been to SR a few times in the past few months, Just for a ride. And its a ghost town alright. Recovery who knows when, get out the crystal ball. i agree that its hard to beat Angkor Wat its a fantastic draw card. I wonder how some of the ASEAN countries view the USD $3000 entry requirement into Cambodia even if countries do start to open up will they come with that extra cost hanging over their heads! Especially with the possibility that someone on your flight tests positive. Good luck SR tourist industry I hope alot of tourist operators and hotels survive.

crob wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:03 pm

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Tue Jul 07, 2020 1:11 pm My theory is that the Chinese will build a big tourist city around the new airport. It will be kitch like Las Vegas with plenty of casinos and prostitution. Tour groups and westerners with money will be welcome, but not backpackers. (Too expensive.) The Chinese and Asian tourists will stay in the new city, visit mainly for the casinos and do Angkor Wat as a day trip.
We'll see in 10 years or so if I guessed right.

Doubt it, that already failed in Sihanoukville. There only so much Chinese money to go around and we are in a global recession, the Chinese government is going to focus there money internally and in Africa. I doubt that even half the current projects in Sihanoukville will be finished.

How has it failed when it hasn't even started yet? Have you read news this week that Chinese are returning to sihanoukville?

I think also that they will build a new city around the airport that will have casinos etc. We have to wait and see how it is in 2030.