TOURISM industry leaders in Cambodia have welcomed a move by the Ministry of Tourism last month that will allow Chinese, South Korean and Japanese visitors three-year multiple-entry visas.
The visas are valid for 30-days per visit and are expected to be introduced later this year.
Said World Express Tour president Ho Vandy: “This is good because it saves time and money for tourists, and in turn they will spend more time and money in Cambodia. It is a big incentive.”
Kimhean Pich, founder and CEO of Discover the Mekong, noted that while the move will result in lower income from visa fees for the authorities, there is the potential for financial gain elsewhere.
“With the visa scheme, the tourism sector should make more money and this will result in higher tax revenues for the government,” he said.
Ang Kim Eang, president, Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, said that the new visa plans should also help boost slower growth in arrivals.
He said: “The increase in arrivals last year is small, so the government is now trying to promote tourism by offering longer visas to the top three tourist markets for Cambodia.”
