Cambodia: Visa-dispensing services grind to a halt

• Apr 16, 2020

Local tourism and visa-dispensing businesses are dealing with the domino effect of the COVID-19 pandemic.

While the months of April and May are usually the time when the summer travel season begins – a peak earning time for the hospitality and tourism industry – “stay at home” orders issued by governments around the world to stem the spread of the fatal virus has sounded the death knell for the sector.

As one of the very few visa service companies in the country to have an offshore ID number from the Australian government, Asian Investment Cambodia (AIC) has, over the last 20 years, been the go-to agency for affluent Cambodians looking to secure either short or long-term visas to enter the country.

But speaking to the Khmer Times, AIC’s Managing Director Ramsey Sokmongkol said that while they previously processed up to 20 applications a month, they are now concentrating on solely permanent resident visas, as part of an Australian investment package, in order to survive.

“We’ve never had to advertise our services, helped by the fact that Cambodia has been moved up from level 4 to level 3 in terms of visa requirements which has made it easier for nationals to travel overseas,” said Sokmongkol.

However, Australian-born Cambodian Sokmongkol said that the company is determined to get through this unprecedented and economically tough time.

“I subscribe to Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution and that only the fittest – those that adapt to new environments – survive. The businesses that only started up a couple of years ago may not make it through, but I believe our expertise and experience will ensure we are still standing in the post-pandemic world,” he said.

To offset the financial losses the company is experiencing, Sokmongkol has requested a reduction on the rental price of their offices and some employees have taken a pay cut or voluntarily taken unpaid leave. He is also trying to find an opportunity for business growth, despite the severe challenges the company faces.

“Making sure we are digitally fit and offloading processes that no longer serve us is a key area I’m focusing on in the coming weeks,” he added.

Source: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50713730/visa-dispensing-services-grind-to-a-halt/