Siem Reap (FN), Jul. 18 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet advised the Royal Government to repeal a sub-decree requiring tourists to stay at least one night in Cambodia, speaking on Thursday (Jul. 18) during a groundbreaking ceremony for construction of Samdech Pin Sem Museum in Siem Reap province.

"Some tourists wish to visit Cambodia in the morning and return in the evening, so there is no need to hinder them. As a result, I have decided to repeal the sub-decree to facilitate tourist travel," the premier underscored.

Samdech Thipadei noted that the sub-decree, introduced in 1998, required tourists visiting Cambodia to stay at least one night. This requirement had deterred some tourists from visiting, leading to potential issues and decreased returns. While the sub-decree was justified in 1998, travel to and from Cambodia is now much easier than it was 30 years ago, he added.

On July 10, 2024, Prime Minister Hun Manet chaired a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Marketing and Promotion of Cambodia, where several principles were established for public and private stakeholders to attract tourists, particularly to Siem Reap, from the high season of 2024 and throughout 2025, including both the low and high seasons.

Among these principles, Samdech Thipadei highlighted the E-arrival system, involving the General Department of Immigration, the General Department of Customs, and the Department of Health. The premier issued guidelines for these three institutions to streamline their processes into a single online form for tourists. Additionally, payment processes should be facilitated to allow tourists to pay online. He confirmed that revising these conditions is the first step in enhancing hospitality at the international airport.
=FRESH NEWS