Thursday, 29 January 2009
Written by May Kunmakara
The Phnom Penh Post
Governmental body responsible for temples say revenue dropped to $30 million in 2008, blaming downturn amid accusations of corruption
ANGKOR Wat ticket sales dropped almost 10 percent in 2008, said Bun Narith, deputy director of Apsara Authority, the government institute that handles revenue from the attraction, blaming a tourism downturn despite criticism that figures have been manipulated due to corruption.
Revenue from ticket sales dropped to about US$30 million last year from roughly $32 million in 2007, he added. However, uncertainty surrounds the data given that Apsara and tycoon Sok Kong's Sokimex, which owns Sokha Hotels - the organisations that receive revenue from Angkor Wat - have refused to release detailed, concrete figures, critics say.
Explaining the situation, Bun Narith told the Post: "I have not received the exact figures from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Sokimex," he said, refusing to provide details on their revenue-sharing agreement. Sok Kong was unavailable Tuesday, his assistant Seng Chanthy said, adding that the person responsible for Angkor Wat ticketing was "on holiday".
Khmer-language daily Koh Santepheap reported on January 13 that the first $3 million in Angkor Wat revenue is split 50-50 between Sokimex and Apsara. Of additional revenue, 15 percent goes to restoration and development at Angkor, 68 percent to Apsara's operating costs and 17 percent to Sokimex.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Yim Sovann raised doubts about the figures. "The drop is caused by corruption," he said. "There is no transparency. The number of tourists increased, but ticket revenue dropped," he added, arguing that most tourists to Cambodia visit Angkor Wat and therefore increased numbers would surely lead to higher revenue at the temples.
Independent tourism analyst Moeung Son also doubted the numbers: "Thong Khon, the minister of tourism, changed his mind ... about the revenue decline in 2008. He used to say that the number of tourists increased 5.48 percent this year [in 2008] which is equal to 2.12 million tourists [in total], even though the actual figure did not match ministry expectations."
In April 1999, the government gave Sokimex a 10-year concession on revenue from Angkor Wat ticket sales as part of an agreement to cooperate with Apsara Authority. Critics say it is time the government ended the monopoly, with Yim Sovann suggesting that tourist figures pointed to total revenue closer to $60 million per year.
"If the government conducted a fair and public bidding process ... we would earn more revenue from this, but the government always solely approves Sokimex Company. That is corruption," he said, citing Sokimex ties to the CPP.
Moeung Son agreed there should be an open tender process: "The government has to give private companies an opportunity to bid for the concession for Angkor Wat," he said.
ANGKOR Wat ticket sales dropped almost 10 percent in 2008, said Bun Narith, deputy director of Apsara Authority, the government institute that handles revenue from the attraction, blaming a tourism downturn despite criticism that figures have been manipulated due to corruption.
Revenue from ticket sales dropped to about US$30 million last year from roughly $32 million in 2007, he added. However, uncertainty surrounds the data given that Apsara and tycoon Sok Kong's Sokimex, which owns Sokha Hotels - the organisations that receive revenue from Angkor Wat - have refused to release detailed, concrete figures, critics say.
Explaining the situation, Bun Narith told the Post: "I have not received the exact figures from the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Sokimex," he said, refusing to provide details on their revenue-sharing agreement. Sok Kong was unavailable Tuesday, his assistant Seng Chanthy said, adding that the person responsible for Angkor Wat ticketing was "on holiday".
Khmer-language daily Koh Santepheap reported on January 13 that the first $3 million in Angkor Wat revenue is split 50-50 between Sokimex and Apsara. Of additional revenue, 15 percent goes to restoration and development at Angkor, 68 percent to Apsara's operating costs and 17 percent to Sokimex.
Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Yim Sovann raised doubts about the figures. "The drop is caused by corruption," he said. "There is no transparency. The number of tourists increased, but ticket revenue dropped," he added, arguing that most tourists to Cambodia visit Angkor Wat and therefore increased numbers would surely lead to higher revenue at the temples.
Independent tourism analyst Moeung Son also doubted the numbers: "Thong Khon, the minister of tourism, changed his mind ... about the revenue decline in 2008. He used to say that the number of tourists increased 5.48 percent this year [in 2008] which is equal to 2.12 million tourists [in total], even though the actual figure did not match ministry expectations."
In April 1999, the government gave Sokimex a 10-year concession on revenue from Angkor Wat ticket sales as part of an agreement to cooperate with Apsara Authority. Critics say it is time the government ended the monopoly, with Yim Sovann suggesting that tourist figures pointed to total revenue closer to $60 million per year.
"If the government conducted a fair and public bidding process ... we would earn more revenue from this, but the government always solely approves Sokimex Company. That is corruption," he said, citing Sokimex ties to the CPP.
Moeung Son agreed there should be an open tender process: "The government has to give private companies an opportunity to bid for the concession for Angkor Wat," he said.
11 comments:
Corruption has started since day 1. Why it is just cited now?
Pouk Ah Scam Rainxy's always claimed corruption since day1 but doesn't have a single drop of proof.
One of their common dirty tactic is to grossly inflate the revenue to more than what it really is, and then accusing everyone of corruption for the missing money. That's is all they know.
By Kok Sap
All were Sihanouk doings and premeditated violations of 1991 Paris Peace Accord. In defending his hypocrisy, he played rabbit fever and screaming fits with Hun Sen. In July 2004 to buy Hun Sen pledge , he decreed Hun Sen to be the Prime Minister of caretaker government while election dispute was in questionable. Then in the following October, Sihanouk threw tantrums and confusions at nation until he got his son appointed King by his adopted son, the colorful Prime Minister. Months afterward to save his son skin and his face, he cheated people to play sick and near death plots to have his new king acquaint with big adopted brother domestic policies.
In 2005, after several outspoken critics joined in Sihanouk fanning flame game Raingsy ended up losing office and running back to his first class citizen country while his poorly fellows were in prison. After losses in rhetoric exchanges, Sihanouk lured all Hun Sen foes out in open over his Supreme Border Council ploy. More adamant than ever, Hun Sen slapped Sihanouk with both hands in the face in exposing his treacherous acts to assist state enemy Viet Cong back in the 70’s. Because of that, Sihanouk raised white flag and left Hun Sen to sign the illegal treaties in October in Hanoi alone. Over all his schematics, Raingsy had lost credibility in foreigner eyes while he bolstered up Hun Sen as the supreme dictator of the Cambodia new millennium.
In 2006,to redeem his losses, Sihanouk had Mr. Raingsy, a humpback Sihanoukist adopted new attitude in order to return to the sender in time to salvage his losing Sihanoukist-FUNC left wing party from Ta Khlaing Moeung suicidal rite. Then followed suit, he cashed in $1,000 per critic to kneel and confess to Hun Sen as a poor choice of words in rhetoric. The four arrested and imprisoned critics were tamely grateful and befriended with singular vision dictator. To please dictator furthermore, then Sihanouk blackened own son RRidh as the screw you all Sihanoukist-FUNC right wing fugitive who cashed out grand $30 million account plus a new suitor of own daughter age before fleeing the country for honeymoon in the first class style.
Anarchy and unruly took toll on both Sihanoukist-FUNC clubs. Out of all Sihanouk maneuvers, Hanoi got new treaties and Hun Sen became absolute dictator. His inept playboy son Sihamoni became I do everything for you King while his imbecile big brother RRidh spoiled club inner circle fortune amassing then ran for comfort with Sros Sroraem Phalla. Lastly Sihanouk had belittled all Sihanoukists while elevated Hanoi lackey Hun Sen to be his first national hero in joining the bloody marquis revolution last month. Had he not blown Hun Sen and Samheang so lowly but Hanoi up his rear in on his every stroke at the same time.
Not enough yet, suddenly the hypocrite father of Cambodia everything is full of energy to harasses UN tribunal in lieu of Hun Sen. He insulted UN tribunal is a waste and all the gruesome evidences are disrespectful for the death in Buddhist rite. Watch him closely, this is his new task from Beijing to derail UN tribunal procedure and destabilize all Hun Sen contenders. As for Prince Thomico ploy ,it is pitiful for his not seeing Sihanouk molestation. Sihanouk is casting net for Hun Sen to see what are the rubbishes remaining in Mekong before 2008 finale. If the wheel turned other direction in 2008, all the screw-ups done by Sihanouk will be unraveled. It is strategically vital that all he is doing now to create confusions and dislodge Viet Cong packaged PRKP/CPP from witness stance and people scrutiny. If politicians had not learned yet, but continue to bow to Sihanouk hypocrisy, there is no need to create any other party since he had declared himself as CPP benefactor for life already. That is his duty call to screw Cambodia justice,morality and conscience for good.
To 10:48 PM,
All you may know is how to spit shit out of your filthy mouth. You have no brain, no education, no principle, no conscience, and above all no heart for the common good of all--espcially the poor and marginalized. I don't know what kind of person you are since you always blindlessly and overly follow your evil leaders and you only know how to ingratiate your corrupted bosses who can decide for you whether to live or die. I'm sad that Cambodia has an awful bunch of people like you yet to be rid of.
Ordinary Cambodian
Mountains of proof exist; only blind people like Hun Sen and his dogs cannot see it. It is the truth, and the truth tastes very bitter. Some coward dogs and this traitor do not have enough courage to swallow it. I know why you bark in defense of Hun Sen; it is because you have been given some fresh bones to lick for your daily servival; otherwise you are the very close relatives of this traitor, are you?
correction: servival=survival
Mr. Moeung Son, I also agree with you that it's ideal to practice open tender for any public service project. But even if there's one, it won't work since there're too many corrupted people who know how to do things by getting around this corrupt system. Corruption has made its way to becoming a way of life among the heartless, careless Cambodian leaders who think about nothing but ways to inflate their pockets. It's beyod shame.
Ordinary Cambodia
again, accountability and transparency in this case this a must if you want ot lessen corruption. why not establish an audit gov't department or something like the tax franchise board they have in the USA to track down people who did not file their income tax return or something along that line because that will keep people in line with the gov't regulations and law.
You talk like Hun Sen goverment is a government by the people, of the people, and for the people. This government is corrupted to the bones.
A government established by the Yuons, and therefore it has the duty to serve the Yuons. Then the Yuons has assured their stability and safety. It's none a bit close to American government.
Hun Sen's government is elected by the people for the people. You got to be from another planet if you don't know that.
10:31Pm ! because lightning just striked ah Hok Landy and will strike your fucking corrupted parents soon!!!!
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