With 3.4 million tourists journeying by air in the first eight months of 2023, Cambodia has skyrocketed its 2022 entries by almost 200 percent. Unsurprisingly in view of the close economic partnership between Phnom Penh and Beijing, the Chinese have provided the biggest boost to the Cambodian coffers. Next month, a new airport near Siem Reap will open and is expected to accommodate wide-bodied jets from all continents. Tourist authorities anticipate 7.6 million arrivals into the country within three years.
The Cambodian government has encouraged Chinese tourism by, for example, cancelling last January the need to show at least US$1,000 at immigration counters (sometimes not enforced) and permitting payment in yuan, rather than the American dollar, for some tourist services. Chinese citizens are entitled to a 30- days visa-on-arrival requiring a payment of US$30, although most travel in groups and complete the bureaucracy in advance of setting off.
- TAGS / KEYWORDS: