Leading tourism players in Cambodia are urging a drastic rethink on a snap decision made to start re-issuing e-visas to vaccinated tourists with a mandatory seven-day quarantine.
On October 18, Cambodia’s entry restrictions were loosened with the announcement that quarantine will be slashed from 14 days to seven for vaccinated Cambodians and foreign business visa holders. This has been further reduced to three days for visiting business travellers and investors with an invitation letter.
Cambodian tourism stakeholders are worried that a new mandatory seven-day quarantine will disrupt recovery
However, an announcement in local media on Tuesday said the government’s e-visa portal is now re-issuing visas for vaccinated tourists. Travellers will have to undergo a seven-day quarantine and pay US$1,000 to cover quarantine costs, PCR tests and other requirements, with excess refunded at the end of isolation.
Industry players are waiting for an official statement, and urging greater clarity on the decision.
“Cambodia still remains very much closed to international tourists as far as we can see,” one agent for an international tour operator said. “We need transparency and clarity, which we have not seen for 1.5 years.”
Ronni Dalhoff, managing director of Diethelm Travel Cambodia, said while a seven-day quarantine remains in place Cambodia is not a viable option for tourists.
“You would have to be a die-hard fan of Cambodia to come and do seven days’ quarantine. As a tourist destination, Cambodia is still deep in the worst-case scenario,” he added.
Dalhoff expects no cross-country travel in the first year of regional borders reopening. With Thailand and Vietnam already announcing clear re-opening plans and both able to offer more diverse itineraries, he fears Cambodia will be left behind.
He predicts even after a full reopening, the percentage of people visiting Cambodia while in the region will significantly decline if there is testing at the borders.
Virginie Kury, general manager of Asian Trails Cambodia, said with the average length of stay sitting at five to seven days, tourists will reject the seven-day quarantine.
Noted Kury: “People have been confined for too long and now that they’ve been fully vaccinated, they crave freedom, interesting itineraries and places to discover. They will choose a destination that allows them this liberty.”
Sinan Thourn, chairman of B2B Cambodia, added as global travel resumes, it is essential destinations remain competitive. “The world is changing. Countries that wish to have back tourists must come up with something attractive. Tourist won’t come if they still have quarantine and a deposit.”
Leading tourism players in Cambodia are urging a drastic rethink on a snap decision made to start re-issuing e-visas to vaccinated tourists with a mandatory seven-day quarantine.
On October 18, Cambodia’s entry restrictions were loosened with the announcement that quarantine will be slashed from 14 days to seven for vaccinated Cambodians and foreign business visa holders. This has been further reduced to three days for visiting business travellers and investors with an invitation letter.
However, an announcement in local media on Tuesday said the government’s e-visa portal is now re-issuing visas for vaccinated tourists. Travellers will have to undergo a seven-day quarantine and pay US$1,000 to cover quarantine costs, PCR tests and other requirements, with excess refunded at the end of isolation.
Industry players are waiting for an official statement, and urging greater clarity on the decision.
“Cambodia still remains very much closed to international tourists as far as we can see,” one agent for an international tour operator said. “We need transparency and clarity, which we have not seen for 1.5 years.”
Ronni Dalhoff, managing director of Diethelm Travel Cambodia, said while a seven-day quarantine remains in place Cambodia is not a viable option for tourists.
“You would have to be a die-hard fan of Cambodia to come and do seven days’ quarantine. As a tourist destination, Cambodia is still deep in the worst-case scenario,” he added.
Dalhoff expects no cross-country travel in the first year of regional borders reopening. With Thailand and Vietnam already announcing clear re-opening plans and both able to offer more diverse itineraries, he fears Cambodia will be left behind.
He predicts even after a full reopening, the percentage of people visiting Cambodia while in the region will significantly decline if there is testing at the borders.
Virginie Kury, general manager of Asian Trails Cambodia, said with the average length of stay sitting at five to seven days, tourists will reject the seven-day quarantine.
Noted Kury: “People have been confined for too long and now that they’ve been fully vaccinated, they crave freedom, interesting itineraries and places to discover. They will choose a destination that allows them this liberty.”
Sinan Thourn, chairman of B2B Cambodia, added as global travel resumes, it is essential destinations remain competitive. “The world is changing. Countries that wish to have back tourists must come up with something attractive. Tourist won’t come if they still have quarantine and a deposit.”