Cambodia lifts quarantine regulations for unvaccinated tourists

More than 6.61 million foreign tourists visited Cambodia in 2019

More than 215,000 tourists from Southeast Asia visited Cambodia from January to May of this year, skyrocketing 282 percent YoY, reported the Phnom Penh Post.

Cambodia saw a large number of Vietnamese tourists during the first half of 2022, according to VnExpress. Numbers went as high as 143,300 from January to June, making up 28 percent of foreign arrivals in the country, which was a growth of more than 20 times YoY. 

Following Vietnam in the top five source markets for travellers to Cambodia are Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

However, Thourn Sinan, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Cambodia chapter, noted that while the number of regional visitors to Cambodia has grown significantly, it remains “very low” when compared to its neighbours Thailand and Vietnam.

“If Cambodia has a policy to attract and encourage foreign tourists, the number of local tourists visiting Cambodia will rise to another level,” Sinan said.

Meanwhile, the Cambodian government recently lifted the mandatory seven-day quarantine for non-vaccinated travellers. They will be, however, subject to taking an antigen test upon arrival, which they will pay for. Fees are waived for unvaccinated Cambodians, according to the Khmer Times.

More: Cambodia’s economy, buoyed by real estate, high vaccination coverage, and FTAs

Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng said that the Ministry of Health’s SOPs allow travellers to receive home treatment if their test result is positive but their symptoms are mild.

“However, if the infected person does not have a proper place to receive care and treatment, he or she will be isolated for treatment at a location designated by the government, and the cost of care and treatment will be borne by the traveller,” he added.

As Cambodia removes quarantine regulations for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travellers, the number of visitors is predicted to rise significantly. Several provinces have also renovated a variety of tourist attractions in an effort to boost the tourism industry.

More than 6.61 million foreign tourists visited Cambodia in 2019. It expects approximately 700,000 international visitors this year.

The Property Report editors wrote this article. For more information, email: [email protected].