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Opening of the Cambodian-Thai border boosts tourism

  • May 05, 2022

After the Thai government allowed the re-opening of the border with Cambodia from May 1, 2022, a number of associations and private companies in the tourism sector in Cambodia, Thailand, as well as Vietnam have cooperated to plan to boost the flow of tourists again.

In early May, the Asia-Pacific Tourism Association (PATA) led by Thuon Sinan, President of the Association, traveled through the Cham Yeam International Border Crossing, Koh Kong Province, to Trat Province, Thailand and on to Bangkok to attend the Tourism and Trade Exchange Meeting between Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam from May 5-6, 2022, while a delegation of companies in Cambodia also traveled by air from Phnom Penh to Bangkok.

The purpose of this road trip is to study and understand the journey as well as to complete the paperwork at the border checkpoints on both the Cambodian and Thai sides.

Thuon Sinan told reporters on April 4 that the opening of the border between Cambodia and Thailand is very good for tourism, transport, trade, as well as other areas that are essential for the continuation of economic development between the two countries.

He said that in practice, when the PATA team crossed the Cham Yeam-Khlong Yai border checkpoint on May 3 yesterday, it was seen that the Cambodian side was doing a good job of completing the paperwork according to the guidelines and  policies of the Royal Government, including immigration officials, border officials, as well as customs officials.

He said the flow of tourists by land would be even greater if the Thai side relaxed some conditions or documents because when he crossed the border, the requirements from the Thai side were still unstable, such as the conditions for driving a private car into Thailand and the problems that the Thai side requested the Cambodian side to conduct a rapid test on guests and passengers.

Ms. Viyada Srong, Vice President of the Trat Tourism Assembly, expressed her pleasure at the opening of the border crossing between Cambodia and Thailand. She is optimistic that tourism between Cambodia and Thailand, especially between Cambodia and Trat, will recover after the opening of the Cambodian-Thai border, while tourism in Trat is also getting ready.

The deputy chairman of the Trat Provincial Tourism Council confirmed that there is still yet to see a large influx of tourists at the Cham Yeam-Khlong Yai border crossing, however, some resort bookings have already begun.

Mr. Thuon Sinan, on behalf of the Cambodian side, and Ms. Viyada, on behalf of the Thai side, and Mr. Nguyen Hong Hieu, representative of the Vietnamese side, will co-chair the meeting, exchange, partnerships, companies, travel agencies and trade exchanges between Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam in Bangkok for two more days to discuss in detail the process of promoting the flow of tourists to the bilateral or tripartite in the near future.

According to the Cambodian Embassy in Thailand, passengers traveling from Cambodia to Thailand by air or land are divided into three categories and also subject to different conditions. That includes:

* Type 1. Vaccinated Travelers:

  1. Register for Thailand Pass before departure (link: tp.consular.go.th) while checking and approving Thailand Pass does not take more than 48 hours.
  2. There are Covid-19 medical insurance with a total insurance premium of $10,000.
  3. No RT-PCR test required before coming to Thailand.
  4. Do your own quick test (ATK) while staying in Thailand.

* Type 2. Unvaccinated Travelers:

  1. Register for Thailand Pass before departure (link: tp.consular.go.th) while checking and approving Thailand Pass does not take more than 48 hours.
  2. There are Covid-19 medical insurance with a total insurance premium of $10,000
  3. Case:
  4. Having a negative RT-PCR test result no more than 72 hours before departure can enter Thailand like a fully vaccinated person.
  5. No negative RT-PCR test result no more than 72 hours before departure, 5 days of quarantine required, RT-PCR test on 4th or 5th day.
  6. Do your own quick test (ATK) while staying in Thailand.

* Type 3. Passengers who are residents of border provinces and hold a Border Pass:

  1. Thailand Pass registration is not required.
  2. No insurance required.
  3. Only those who have been fully vaccinated.
  4. Travel is only allowed in the areas specified by the Cambodia-Thailand Agreement.
  5. Can stay in Thailand for no more than 3 days (2 nights).

Thailand’s provinces bordering Cambodia with international border crossings include Trat, Chanthaburi, Sa Kaeo and Surin. Fresh News