Cambodia expects to attract at least 600,000 Chinese visitors during a 4-month visa-free trial for Chinese citizens from June 15th to October 15th, Tourism Minister Huot Hak told The Cambodia China Times.
Huot Hak said the policy is intended to make travel to Cambodia easier for Chinese tourists by reducing entry procedures, improving customs clearance and strengthening reception services. He said the measure was not only a visa policy, but also a signal of friendship to Chinese visitors.
“When Chinese tourists step off the plane and set foot on Cambodian soil, they will immediately feel the warm welcome of the Cambodian people,” he said.
The minister said Cambodia has prepared services around Chinese travelers’ needs, including accommodation, transport, dining, shopping, travel routes and souvenir preferences. He added that the ministry has improved Chinese-language guide arrangements and will gradually expand Chinese signage and information at airports, major attractions and key tourism areas.
Huot Hak also said Cambodia’s rainy season should not be seen as a barrier to travel, noting that rainfall is usually brief and that forests, lakes and waterfalls are often at their most attractive during the period.
He recommended four main tourism areas for Chinese visitors: Siem Reap and Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh, the southwestern coast, and the northeast eco-tourism region.
Addressing safety concerns, Huot Hak said Cambodia is continuing to crack down on online scams and transnational crime, adding that tourist safety is “fully guaranteed.”
