The Cambodian government is going to lower e-visa fees for tourists, business visitors and other travelers starting from January 1st, in a bid to bring in more visitation and investment from key primary markets in Southeast Asia.
The government announced the change over the weekend, with tourist visa prices to drop to $30 from $36 and regular visas to cost $35, down from $42.
But while the move is seen as a step in the right direction, it might not prompt large boosts for the tourism industry.
Instead of a general lowering of prices, industry experts are urging for better visa measures for the main countries contributing to its international arrivals.
International tourism increased by some 22 percent during the first 10 months of 2024, reaching 6 million, mostly from Thailand, Vietnam, China, Laos, and the United States.
The number of Chinese tourists alone to the country in the first 10 months of the year neared 692,000, a yearly rise of nearly 53 percent. And Cambodia tourism officials are predicting some 2 million Chinese tourists in 2025 – of the total 7 million international tourists it’s hoping for next year.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism indicated that in 2023, international tourists generated gross revenue of $3.08 billion for the country.
