Is Cambodia’s ‘Ghost City’ Rebounding? Here's a Data-Driven Look at Sihanoukville’s Future скачать в хорошем качестве

Is Cambodia’s ‘Ghost City’ Rebounding? Here's a Data-Driven Look at Sihanoukville’s Future

Is Sihanoukville’s 'Ghost City' era coming to an end? Here's an on-the-ground, data-driven Cambodia Real Estate Investment update: Here's my contact information if you want to get in touch: WhatsApp, Telegram & Phone: +855 96 767 5336 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tim-boesen-cambodia Welcome to the channel! I’m Tim, an investment advisor with ‪@Realestatecomkh‬ based here in Cambodia. In this episode, we head to Sihanoukville—Cambodia’s largest coastal city—to cut through the media noise and give you a data-backed, on-the-ground report of where this city is headed next. If you’ve been following the headlines since 2019, you’ll know that Sihanoukville has been one of the most talked-about (and misunderstood) places in the region. From explosive Chinese development and a sudden gambling ban to pandemic-induced collapse and now, cautious optimism—this city has seen it all. In this video, I break down: ✅ What caused the crash ✅ What’s changing now ✅ The Sihanoukville Master Plan and what it means for real estate trends ✅ And the key signs that suggest a Sihanoukville rebound is underway 📍 Location Primer: Sihanoukville is 200km southwest of Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s capital, and serves as the country’s main gateway to global trade via its deep-water port. It’s also just 45 minutes by ferry from Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem—two of Cambodia’s top island destinations. 📉 What Went Wrong? The 2019 ban on online gambling led to a mass exodus of Chinese investors. That, followed by COVID-19, caused a sharp contraction in GDP (-3% in 2020) and an 80% drop in tourism. Real estate stalled. Hundreds of buildings were abandoned. Sihanoukville became known as Cambodia’s "ghost city." 📈 The Comeback Plan: Sihanoukville Master Plan Launched in 2024, the government’s 15-year Sihanoukville Master Plan focuses on four key pillars: tourism, industry, trade/logistics, and finance. It's targeting up to $20 billion in private investment across two phases (2024–2028 and 2029–2038), with incentives to revive and modernize the city. 🚧 Infrastructure Investments Driving the Rebound Here’s what’s been built or planned: Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Expressway (Completed): 2.5-hour travel time, $2B investment Funan Techo Canal (Underway): $1.7B canal connecting Phnom Penh to the Gulf of Thailand Deep Sea Port Expansion (2020–2028): Deeper waters, new container yards Sihanoukville Airport Upgrade: Longer runway, new terminals, future second airport site Ghost Building Rehab Program: 101 of 362 buildings approved for redevelopment, $560M invested 🏗️ Real Estate Investment Highlights (2024–2025) 213 new projects approved (Jan–Nov 2024) $6.1B total investment capital 40,000+ jobs projected Major sectors: real estate (213 projects), tourism (60), industry (35) Government extends real estate incentives through end of 2028 🏭 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) 16 zones in total; 5 are active 270+ factories operating $2.65B total investment Nearly 100,000 jobs created 🏝️ Tourism Revival 5-star hotels, new casino resorts, and luxury island getaways are being announced A Maldives-style private island opens in Q1 2025 Tourism numbers back to pre-pandemic levels (~6.7 million tourists in 2024) 📊 Real Estate Trends in 2025 300% increase in buying, selling, and rental activity in 2024 Casino-adjacent properties have seen 5–7% price increases over the past year Beachfront properties command 15–20% higher prices than inland units 🎯 Final Thoughts Sihanoukville is transforming fast. While parts of the city—especially in the north—are still catching up, the signs of a rebound are undeniable. With billions pouring in, and massive upgrades in tourism and infrastructure, it’s clear the government is serious about revitalizing this strategic coastal hub. Still, Sihanoukville isn’t for every investor. If you're looking at Cambodia real estate investment, it pays to do your homework and know which pockets of the city have the most upside. For me, I often stick to Otres Beach and the islands—it’s where the lifestyle, infrastructure, and opportunity all meet. 💬 Interested in investing in Cambodian property? 📧 Reach out anytime! I’d be happy to walk you through the opportunities and help you make a confident decision. 👍 Like, comment, and subscribe if you found this useful—it really helps the channel grow! #CambodiaRealEstateInvestment #SihanoukvilleRebound #RealEstateTrends #OnTheGroundReport #SihanoukvilleMasterPlan ----------- Video Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:34 Sihanoukville Intro 01:15 What happened to Sihanoukville 02:46 How Cambodia's government is helping 04:09 Phnom Penh–Sihanoukville Expressway 🚗 04:37 Funan Techo Canal 🚢 05:14 Deep-sea port upgrade ⚓ 05:51 Airport expansion ✈️ 06:16 Government Programs for the Real Estate Market 🏗️ 07:58 Sihanoukville SEZs 08:23 Tourism infrastructure & development 08:51 Real estate trends 09:26 My candid opinion 10:43 Conclusion