“Ban on Motorbike Rental”, Siem Reap Governor Warns Business Owners

PHNOM PENH – H.E. Kim Bunsong, Siem Reap governor, has releases a warning about the business owners, who disobey the ban on motorcycle and scooter rentals to tourists.

Dated back to last week, on Thursday, the governor wrote a letter to remind and urge the motorbike rental shop’s owners to follow the directive in order to maintain public order and reduce traffic accidents. And if they refuse to obey, their business may face to be suspended or shut down, according to local reports.

“It is completely forbidden to rent or lend transportation methods such as motorbikes and cars to foreigners … except bicycle or electric bicycle,” the letter reads. “In case individuals [or] business owners rent or lend… transportation of all kinds … to foreigners for trips or touring, authorities will take legal actions, and stop their business temporarily or completely.”

The ban has been taken place in Siem Reap town since 2002, but has not been cooperated by businesses owners.

As written in the letter, provincial police, tourist police and other relevant authorities will take legal actions against businesses that don’t abide by these instructions.

However, both the new and old motorbike rental shop’s owners have complained about the effects of the ban on their businesses.

“This will affect my business because I don’t have another one. Before, I put electric bicycles [for rent], but not many people would rent them, so I changed them for motorbikes”, said one of the owners of a motorbike rental shop.

He added that the rate of traffic accidents is very small, if authorities really want to enforce the ban, then it should be applied to the whole country.

So what do you think about this case?

Ban on motorbike rental – Siem Reap Governor warns business owners