Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam are conducting ongoing discussions on the creation of a Southern Tourism Corridor, which would promote tour packages across the southern provinces of the three countries, giving a boost to tourism across the region.

A statement posted on the Ministry of Tourism’s Facebook page said Tourism Minister Thong Khon attended the second meeting yesterday and that the corridor would be created under the existing framework of the Greater Mekong Subregion.

The three countries will include select provinces, with Cambodia submitting the five southern provinces of Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kompot, Kep and Takeo.

Thailand has agreed to include four provinces and Vietnam five.

Ang Kim Eang, president of Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, said Cambodia would benefit from a mutual sharing of tourists.

“There are alot of potential of tourist attractions in the southern part of Cambodia,” he said.

“There are beatiful beaches, islands, mountains, especially we have a virgin rain forest.”

Kim Eang said the easy availability of transportation services within the three countries would facilitate this movement of tourists across the corridor.

The move comes on the back of Cambodia and Thailand’s announcement in June that would allow tourists to travel to both countries if they have a visa from one of them.

The new corridor would also help Vietnam, which has seen a 30 to 40 per cent drop in tourist arrivals during the low season.