Byline: din black, 7.8pt

LESS than 10 percent of Cambodia’s hotels have received an official rating from the Ministry of Tourism so far, despite the star-based rating system established in a 2004 sub-decree, a ministry official said yesterday.

Only 37 hotels of the Kingdom’s 455 have been granted their stars, with another 39 awaiting accreditation, Tourism Industry Department Director Prak Chan Dara said yesterday. “The ministry is trying hard to check and evaluate hotels for a star rating, and we will be pushing to register star ratings for at least 100 hotels by the end of the year,” he said.

The fee for the service varies by the classification granted – five-star hotels must pay US$300, while four-star hotels pay $250, three stars cost $200, one star $100 and $50 for a no-star establishment.

Some in the industry said they were not eager to receive a Ministry of Tourism rating.

Heng Rann, general manager of the 132-room Golden Sand Hotel in Sihanoukville, said his hotel had not submitted an application to receive a rating.

“Everything depends on the ministry,” he said. “If the ministry want us to do this, we will do it, but it’s not something we’re urging the government to do.”

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Tourism began requiring hotel owners to apply for a star application when they renew their annual operating license, Prak Chan Dara said. He warned that the ministry would take action if hotel owners ignored the directive.

“Hotels that have failed to apply for classification will risk having their operating licences cancelled and will be fined between 2 and 20 million riel [or ByUS$472 to $4720],” he said.