Kep tourism spots to become smoke-free

Ministry of Tourism under secretary of state Hor Sarun (centre left) and Kep province deputy governor Ul Phirun (centre right) at the meeting to discuss implementing a smoke-free environment.  Kep Administration

A ministry undersecretary of state Hor Sarun yesterday held a meeting with provincial authorities to discuss the implementation and enforcement of the plan.

He said turning these areas into smoke-free zones would protect people from second-hand smoke because smoking tobacco poses a health risk and causes economic, social and environmental damage.

“Officials and the local authority should promote the implementation of law on the control of tobacco products by educating owners of tourist businesses about the benefits of having a smoke-free environment in Kep province,” Sarun said.

He said businesses that implement the smoke-free environment programme will see a rise in health-conscious customers and also gain recognition from the ministry.

Cambodia Movement for Health executive director Mom Kong said yesterday that they cooperated with the ministry to check if tourist businesses such as hotels, restaurants and guesthouses in Kep province have designated non-smoking areas in their establishments.

“We found that some tourist businesses have set aside non-smoking areas and put up signs banning guests from smoking in them,” he said. “However, some others have not yet done so and allow guests to smoke at places such as around swimming pools and inside the buildings.”

He said that after inspection, the ministry and CMH will evaluate and certify establishments which have been turned into smoke-free areas.

In 2019, Apsara Authority received the Smoke-free heritage Award from the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance and World Health Organization in the South-East Asia Region for its efforts to make the Angkor site smoke-free.

The Ministry of Tourism has also chosen Battambang city to become a smoke-free city by the end of this year to promote public health and develop a smoke-free tourism sector.

Deputy governor Ul Phirun said yesterday Kep has become a competitive destination for national and international tourists.

She said that the smoke-free project will help the province to become a high-end luxury tourist destination that is attractive and competitive in the region and the world by attracting health-conscious tourists.

“The Kep provincial administration seeks to ensure a smoke-free environment to attract more health-conscious tourists and urges tourism-related businesses to implement this programme,” she said.

In 2019, a study, conducted by technical working groups of the World Health Organization, United Nations Development Programme and Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) project 203, showed that about 15,000 Cambodians die each year due to tobacco-related diseases, one-third of whom are from the lower-income group.

The study added that tobacco-related illnesses cost the Cambodian economy approximately more than $650 million every year, equivalent to three percent of the country’s GDP. Source from Khmertimes.