Tourist police officers guide international tourists across the border at the Poipet International Border Gate on December 29. Tourist police
While the government recently announced that visa fees will be reduced, several private-sector tourism commentators have suggested that waiving visa fees entirely – either for all countries or certain key markets – would better promote international arrivals.
On December 28, the Cambodian government announced that from January 1, 2025, the fee for e-Visa T (Tourist Visa) will be reduced from $36 to $30, while the e-Visa E (Ordinary Visa) fee will drop from $42 to $35.
While this latest initiative is viewed as a step forward, private tourism operators have encouraged the government to consider visa exemptions for international tourists, similar to practices in neighbouring countries, to boost competitiveness and attract more visitors.
According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, Cambodia welcomed 6 million foreign tourists from January to November 2024, a 22% increase compared to the 4.92 million arrivals from the same period in 2023.
In Thailand, international tourist arrivals surpassed the 2024 target of 35 million, generating nearly $53 billion in revenue. Thailand has waived visa requirements for citizens of 93 countries, allowing them to stay for up to 60 days. According to Thai tourism authorities, this policy has made a significant contribution to the surge in tourist numbers.
Vietnam recorded over 15.8 million international tourist arrivals in the first 11 months of 2024, a 41% increase compared to the same period in 2023. Vietnam expects to welcome between 17 to 18 million international tourists by the end of the year, with the growth partly attributed to its visa exemption policy.
In addition to waiving visas for ASEAN countries, Vietnam also offers 45-day visa exemptions for European tourists, according to VnEconomy.
Thourn Sinan, president of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Cambodia Chapter, believed that Cambodia’s visa fee reductions are a modest measure and unlikely to attract international tourists.
He encouraged the government to consider full visa exemptions, at least for key tourist source markets, as a more effective incentive.
Sinan acknowledged that Cambodia’s economy may not be as robust as its neighbours, which allows them to offer such exemptions, but emphasised the importance of doing whatever is feasible to enhance competitiveness. He expressed his hopes that the current reductions are merely the first step in a broader strategy.
Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, agreed that the visa fee reductions are likely to generate only minor interest among international tourists.
“This reduction will attract some attention, but it will be minimal. Completely waiving visa fees would have a much stronger impact, as modern travellers prefer convenience, not just savings on money but also on the time and effort spent applying for visas,” she said.
In November 2023, Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that it is not yet the right time for Cambodia to waive visa fees entirely, as visa revenue remains a significant source of national income.
A staff member at a travel agency in Siem Reap, who requested anonymity, mentioned that international tourists rarely complain about visa fees, as these are typically handled by agencies abroad. However, he noted dissatisfaction among international tourists entering Cambodia via land borders due to slow processing times, which can take up to two hours.
To expedite border crossings, particularly at key checkpoints with Thailand such as Poipet, Pailin, and Bavet in Svay Rieng province, he said additional payments of $5 per tourist are often made to border officials.
“For my groups, which typically consist of 20 to 30 people, we can’t afford to have elderly tourists stand in line for long periods, which forces us to pay extra to the border police to expedite the process. For us, the Bavet and Pailin checkpoints are the most important crossing. We avoid Poipet as much as possible due to its complexity,” he explained.
He urged the relevant ministries to address these issues to streamline the process for international tourists, which would enhance Cambodia’s appeal as a tourist destination.
As of December 30, The Post was unable to obtain a response from Touch Sokhak, spokesperson for the Ministry of Interior, regarding complaints of slow land border processing for international tourists.
