Owners of restaurants and vendors at some resorts have complained about the lack of customers visiting their outlets during this year’s Khmer New Year.
Srey Meas, a restaurant owner at Kampi resort in Kratie province, said yesterday not many people have come to the resort during this period over coronavirus fears.
She said although the government has not banned such outlets from operating, customers still refrain from going to their establishments.
“Every year, during the New Year, we have a full house because people gather to celebrate but this year, there were very few customers,” Ms Meas said.
Chan Nang, a vendor at Odoung mountain resort in Kampong Speu, yesterday echoed these sentiments.
“We only managed to sell some food and drinks to the few customers who came to the resort this New Year,” she said.
Chan Srey Keo, 32, a Phnom Penh resident, said yesterday for this year’s Khmer New Year, her family did not visit any resorts locally or abroad due to the travel restriction in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.
“This year, I posted pictures of previous visits to resorts on my Facebook page to share memories,” Ms Srey Keo said. “I had planned to visit Yeak Loam lake in Ratanakiri province.”
Another resident Thom Vena, 40, said yesterday his family did not leave the capital during the New Year as a precaution from contracting the virus.
“Our health and safety are the top priorities. We can always go and visit resorts another time,” he said. “We must follow the government’s directive to work as usual and avoid crowds for our safety.”
