Travellers entering Cambodia through Phnom Penh International Airport earlier this year. Heng Chivoan
The Inter-Ministerial Committee to Combat Covid-19 has designated two luxury hotels as alternative quarantine options for travellers who wish to enter Cambodia through Phnom Penh International Airport – Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel & Residence and the Courtyard by Marriott Phnom Penh.
In a notice detailing guidelines issued on July 22, the Ministry of Health said the designation is intended to provide more options and convenience for inbound travellers.
"Travellers can choose the hotel of their choice and make direct booking via www.sokhahotels.com.kh/phnompenh/ or www.courtyardphnompenh.com. Booking shall be made two days prior to departure," it said.
Upon arrival at the airport, travellers who have booked one of the two hotels shall produce required documents as would regular passengers.
The documents include, among others, valid visas, health certificates issued by the country of origin within 72 hours prior to departure indicating the holder is negative for SARS-CoV-2, and proof of heath insurance valid in Cambodia and covering Covid-19 treatment.
Travellers are also required to present a copy of the hotel booking receipt for their 14-day stay.
But the authorities reserve the right to arrange a particular quarantine site for passengers deemed to have a significantly high chance of carrying a more virulent variant of the virus. In this case, hotel room deposits will be refunded, but the visitors will then be required to pay a deposit of $2,000 as would regular passengers.
The hotels are required to arrange transportation by strictly adhering to health measures in force, while guests must also follow them during their quarantine.
After completing quarantine at the two hotels, travellers are also required to pay the state's expenses in implementing health measures like PCR testing, health care services during their quarantine in accordance with the directive No 4898 issued on June 8, 2020.
The ministry noted that inbound travellers who do not book the two hotels shall following existing measures by placing a deposit of $2,000 to insure their expenses during the quarantine and other guidelines.
If upon arrival any passengers are suspected of travelling from areas at high risk of the coronavirus Delta variant, they would not be allowed to stay at the hotel they have booked.
"In this case, they must place a deposit of $,2000 and undergo quarantine at a location designated by the relevant authorities and fill in required forms as would regular passengers. And their hotel booking deposit will be returned to them.
Travellers are required to cooperate with health officials in having their specimens collected for Covid-19 testing. The first test will be specified in their hotel booking receipt before they are transported to the hotel and other tests if necessary until the end of their quarantine.
