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Tourism

(i)  Introduction

Cambodia is rapidly becoming a favorite destination for foreign tourists with numbers jumping from 463,000 in 2001 to 790,000 in 2002.  Despite the effect of SARS in 2003 it increased again from January to June 2004 to 448 239 for the six month period, an increase of over 43% compared to the same period in 2003. 

Cambodia also has a growing reputation as a new destination for pedophiles and sex tourists taking advantage of weak law enforcement machinery[1]. While the Cambodian government has a 5-year plan to combat the sexual exploitation of children it has asked for support through international aid efforts to assist in achieving this task.[2] This task is further complicated by the spread of information and images internationally promoting the availability of children. Child prostitutes pictured alone or with significantly older men have featured in international print and television media. Internet sites provide details of where to go how much to pay and testimonies from past customers. Some cases have involved child involvement in video or photographic pornography[3]. This information attracts more men traveling to Cambodia intent on pursuing children for sex. Those who profit from supply will meet demand locally. There is also demand for children from domestic tourists. World Vision currently works in partnership with the Ministry of Interior, UNICEF and other international organizations to strengthen the application of existing legal mechanisms to prosecute offenders and protect children[4]. The challenge for those who oppose the Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children (CSEC) is to influence different stakeholders in the tourist sector and community to develop its potential responsibly in the interests of all Cambodians. This includes reporting crimes against children and ensuring that those who work in the tourist sector can recognize and respond to exploitative activity.

Tourism is one of the four main economic planks identified by government to promote the counties future development. Tourism numbers have increased significantly in recent years as have the range of tourism services in the private sector.  In 2000, World Vision together with the Ministry of Tourism and the Cambodian National Council for Children researched the problem of child sex tourism and recommended a variety of action to combat this growing problem[5]. The British Government supported the establishment of a 2-year project to work with the Ministry of Tourism to build capacity. This project has been successful in mobilizing government response to this type of sexual exploitation. Outcomes from the first 2 years have been the development of informational tools to promote awareness of child protection concerns in the tourism sector, children and communities where tourism is a major economic activity. An official training curriculum used in workshops with over 700 tourism officials. The establishment of Child Safe Tourism monitoring structures at both national and provincial levels. Partnership with Local NGOs support child participation in advocating for change in the three tourism targeted locations. Community workshops have promoted awareness of this issue and reporting mechanisms among children local leaders. This has led to increased police action and prosecution of offenders in the three targeted locations. Some offenders have been caught with large quantities of child pornographic material[6]. While these gains are significant the problem continues with greater tourist numbers, exchange of information and images via the Internet and crackdowns in countries such as Thailand on child sex offenders. 

Progress

In 2000–03 progress in this area has included the Tourism Law (Royal decree 0196-15) being strengthened through sub decree No 26 (May 2000) on the amendment of duties of departments of International Cooperation and ASEAN in the Ministry of Tourism.

(ii) Key Issues

Foreign exchange earnings from Tourism were estimated in 2002 to be US$576 million. Employment opportunities were created for more than 100,000 people. Its growth forecast of 30 percent predicts that by 2010 direct earnings from tourism will be US$1,529 million dollars. Capital investment in infrastructure from 1998 to 2000 is estimated to be over US$362 million dollars. Investment by government on training monitoring and ensuring child safe standards are in place needs to be a priority for the Cambodian Government. Failure to act will see Cambodia cement its place as a preferred destination for child sex offenders and cast doubt over statements by senior political figures that child sex tourism has no place in Cambodia’s drive for sustained cultural and natural tourism.

Chapter 3 of the Tourism Law (waiting for ratification by the National Assembly) details what types of business are included under their regulations, details of license conditions tourism operators and details of enforcement. Article 14.5 states that if inspections by Ministry of Tourism Officials find that there have been violations of a criminal law for example child prostitution they are to immediately report to police. Article 15 states that cancellation, suspension of licenses and closure of businesses are actions the ministry can take. While the Government is to be commended for this operating framework further work is needed on its implementation.

Sokha was sold to a foreigner at aged 13 to assist her family pay for medical treatment. From there she was involved in prostitution in tourist areas for 2 years until she became sick and clients would not take her. She was thrown out on the street. World Vision worked with her for over a year while she battled HIV. She died aged 16 weighing less than 20kg.

 

(iii)  Recommendations

Recommendations for the Government:

Recommendations for Donors:

Recommendations for NGOs:

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For more information on the issues raised in this paper, please contact: Laurence Gray, World Vision, Tel: 855 (0)23 216052, Email: laurence_gray@wvi.org



[1]Bertil Lintner, Dangerous Liaisons, The Far Eastern Economic Review, March 2003
[2] Five year Plan to Combat Sexual Exploitation of Children, Cambodian National Children’s Council 1999.
[3] Children’s Work Adults play, Child sex Tourism the problem in Cambodia, World Vision, Ministry of Tourism 2000
[4] Law Enforcement Against Sexual Exploitation of Children Project is viewed internationally as a model of effective cooperation between NGO and Government. It has been featured in regional and international forums to address CSEC.
[5] Ibid
[6] French man Pierre Guynot case Kampong Som 2000, as reported in the Phnom Penh Post June 8 2001.