What Is Joint Prakas 537 "Penalties under the Authorities of the Ministry of Tourism"?
The Ministry of Tourism (MOT) and the Ministry of Economy and Finance issued a Joint Prakas 537 on the Penalties under the Authorities of the Ministry of Tourism which set out a list of penalties in relation to violation of the Law on Tourism and related tourism regulations that are under the authorities of the MOT which will come into effect on 1 October 2024. But what is this Prakas and can it be enforced?
Throughout every year, there are several Prakas issued by the Ministries and it can be tough to keep up to date with all the regulations and changes but it is also the responsibility of businesses operating in the Kingdom to do so.
What is Joint Prakas 537?
Joint Prakas 537 replaced the previous Prakas such as Joint Prakas 160 on Tourism Related Penalties dated 17 February 2020 and outlines penalties businesses can incut. The penalties include monetary fines (to be paid by a specified deadline) and subsequent fines on late payment of up to 20 million riels (approximately USD $5,000).
Key Highlights of Joint Prakas 537
- The Joint Prakas is designed to streamline penalties for violations of tourism regulations, thereby promoting better adherence to legal standards within the industry.
- It encompasses various aspects of tourism operations, including licensing, operational compliance, and other regulatory requirements that businesses must follow.
The Cambodian government has ongoing efforts to regulate and improve the tourism sector, ensuring that it operates within a framework that supports sustainable growth and compliance with national laws.
The table below highlights some of the key offences and penalties under the Prakas but based on these (although punishable) it will be interesting to see how widely they will be enforced. Failure to adhere to these may result in monetary fines as specified in this Prakas.
This information was based on a release from the legal firm DFDL.