Submitted by Mohit Joshi
Phnom Penh - The visa exemption for citizens of five states in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) has cost Cambodia's treasury 14.1 million US dollars in reduced revenue since being introduced in January 2008, media reports said Monday.
Citizens from Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam currently qualify for the exemption.
Minister of Tourism Thong Khon, told the Phnom Penh Post that the visa exemption agreement will be extended next year to Thailand, and by 2015 to the remaining three ASEAN members of Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar.
"We realize that our visa-exemption programme for travellers from ASEAN countries results in lower national revenues, but we will continue it because increased arrivals can boost economic growth kingdom-wide and will create many jobs," Thong Khon said.
Tourism is one of Cambodia's key economic engines. More than two million tourists visited the country last year, many drawn by the Angkor Wat temple complex in the north-west.
The Ministry of Tourism reported that Cambodia issued 278,842 visas to ASEAN nationals in the first six months of 2009 which cost the government 5.5 million dollars. That compared with 431,426 visa exemptions issued last year at a cost of 8.6 million dollars. (dpa)
Citizens from Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam currently qualify for the exemption.
Minister of Tourism Thong Khon, told the Phnom Penh Post that the visa exemption agreement will be extended next year to Thailand, and by 2015 to the remaining three ASEAN members of Brunei, Indonesia and Myanmar.
"We realize that our visa-exemption programme for travellers from ASEAN countries results in lower national revenues, but we will continue it because increased arrivals can boost economic growth kingdom-wide and will create many jobs," Thong Khon said.
Tourism is one of Cambodia's key economic engines. More than two million tourists visited the country last year, many drawn by the Angkor Wat temple complex in the north-west.
The Ministry of Tourism reported that Cambodia issued 278,842 visas to ASEAN nationals in the first six months of 2009 which cost the government 5.5 million dollars. That compared with 431,426 visa exemptions issued last year at a cost of 8.6 million dollars. (dpa)
2 comments:
Hi Webmaster,
Do you whether the visa exemption applies to Chinese citizens also? I am from China and I plan to visit Cambodia this year. It would be great news if we can go visa free.
Thanks,
Alex
Dear Alex,
Visa exempt is only for tavellers from Asean countries like Thailand, Laos, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma.
China is not part of Asean, therefore is no visa exempt for travellers from China.
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