Cambodia Warns Accommodation Owners Over Failure to Report Foreign Guests

PHNOM PENH, Feb 26, 2026 (KPT) – Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Sokha has warned accommodation providers they must report foreign guests to authorities or face fines from March.

The reminder applies to all lodging types, including hotels, guesthouses and rental properties hosting foreign nationals.

Sokha issued the warning on Feb 25 while attending the 19th National Day Against Human Trafficking at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh.

He represented Prime Minister Hun Manet at the event, held under the theme “Together for a Cambodia Free of Human Trafficking and Online Scams.”

Under Sub-Decree No. 03, signed by Hun Manet on Jan 5, owners or managers of collective accommodation who fail to comply with reporting obligations under Article 16 will face fines of 400,000 riel.

Those who intentionally conceal foreign nationals who entered Cambodia illegally will be fined 4,000,000 riel per person, in addition to criminal penalties.

Sokha, who chairs the National Committee for Counter Trafficking, said unreported foreign nationals could include individuals attempting to evade authorities or engage in criminal activity.

He stressed the government’s commitment to safeguarding public order and eliminating crime while protecting both Cambodian citizens and foreign residents.

According to official figures, authorities investigated 79 human trafficking cases in 2025 across 28 operations – about three times higher than in 2024 – leading to 130 arrests.

In addition, 101 cases of commercial sexual exploitation were suppressed, resulting in 144 arrests.

Officials said trafficking remains a significant challenge regionally and globally, undermining security and economic development.

Sokha added that efforts to combat trafficking have taken place against a backdrop of global challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters, climate change and armed conflicts, which have increased vulnerability and created opportunities for criminal networks.