Cambodia’s border reopening is a boost to its tourism industry, which is an important contributor to the economy, behind the textile and garment manufacturing sector.
The tourism industry will be of greater importance after the country lost its ‘Everything but Arms’ (EBA) status by the EU – an EBA status had previously enabled Cambodia to enjoy duty-free access to EU markets.
Cambodia is now fully open to foreign travelers although there are still quarantine requirements for travelers who are not fully vaccinated.
The country is among a slew of ASEAN countries that have opened their borders to international travelers. Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia have eased border restrictions to varying degrees. For instance, Vietnam and Malaysia have allowed entry of foreign travelers regardless of their vaccination status whereas Indonesia and Singapore primarily only allow fully vaccinated travelers; unvaccinated travelers can enter if they have a medical reason and will have to undergo quarantine.
The border relaxation will be a boost to Cambodia’s tourism sector, which plays a vital role in the country’s economic growth, contributing to some 12 percent of GDP annually.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic saw international traveler numbers decrease by 80 percent from 6.6 million visitors to 1.3…
