Vietnam visa waiver may have impact on Cambodia

[Anchor Moy]

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/v ... a-benefits
Cambodian authorities are considering how the new Vietnamese visa waiver for UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy will affect Cambodian tourism.
Who knows? Maybe they will think about doing the same in Cambodia. That would mean that short-term tourists could travel through Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia without visas, encouraging those who fly in to Thailand and Vietnam to extend their circuit to Cambodia, including tour groups etc.
It would mean less hassle at the land borders, less corruption and a more welcoming image of Cambodia.

Mon, 22 June 2015 May Kunmakara
Vietnam’s decision to grant visa exemptions to five European countries has caused concern among Cambodia’s tourism sector, as certain stakeholders worry that it could affect tourist arrivals in the Kingdom.
...
Ho Vandy, co-chair of the private sector-government working group on tourism, said the visa exemptions will have an impact on Cambodia’s tourism industry, and that all stakeholders, especially the government, will need to provide a similar scheme to European tourists.

“This is the right time for our government to be flexible, as the private sector has raised the issue of discounts on visa fees or exemptions [in the past],” he said.

Lav Heng, director of Cambodian tour operator VLK Royal, echoed the same concerns, adding that the government needed to help improve domestic tourism services.

“We don’t have a lot of direct flights so this will affect us a lot. It is important is to ensure that we provide better services and accommodation for tourists,” Heng said.

He said the country’s two main international border gates – Poipet in Banteay Meanchey and Bavet in Svay Rieng province – are currently disorganised and need to be improved.

“If you look at our two main international border gates, our local authorities don’t facilitate tourists, by asking for money and it is too messy – how can we attract them to visit us?” he said.

Duh , I don't understand why people don't want to come to Cambodia via Poipet.
Well, you just said you do, you moron!
Jeez.

[juansweetpotato]

If not Vietnam, where else?

For UK citizens, other destinations for an extended holiday in the region offer the following options:

30 days visa-free: The Philippines, Thailand and Singapore

Three months visa-free: Malaysia

90 days visa-free: Brunei, Japan, and South Korea

180 days visa-free: Hong Kong and Taiwan (extended within Taiwan)

Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos offer 30 day visas on arrival, with simpler and cheaper procedures than Vietnam’s visa on arrival. Myanmar offers a 28-day e-visa for tourists.

- See more at: http://www.vietnam-briefing.com/news/vi ... eW1eq.dpuf

[hanno]

Not just the land crossings. I fly into Cambodia every week and whilst Siem Reap as a all new, shiny, terminal, the immigration guys are still the same old miserable corrupt cnuts they always were. Compared to them, the Vietnamese counterparts are a barrel of laughs.

[TheGrinchSR]

If a $30 visa puts someone off from coming to Cambodia - maybe they're better off in Vietnam or Thailand because $30 is fuck all money in the real world. Unlike Vietnam or Thailand that visa is easily purchased on arrival (whereas Viet and Thai visas need to be bought from consulates/embassies), so it's really not a hardship to get one.

It's also worth noting that easy business visas will be a thing of the past if Cambodia stops paid for tourist visas... and worse, for many people, crossings like Poipet will become hell on earth as immigration coppers start rifling through your luggage looking to boost their income to replace lost tea money on visas. Be careful what you wish for...

[Cam Nivag]

It's also worth noting that easy business visas will be a thing of the past if Cambodia stops paid for tourist visas...

Why would you say this? I don't see the connection.

[TheGrinchSR]

It's also worth noting that easy business visas will be a thing of the past if Cambodia stops paid for tourist visas...

Why would you say this? I don't see the connection.

Because they're not really supposed to issue business visas at all... there are a long list of strenuous requirements to meet for those visas at embassies, etc.

If there is no need to issue a tourist visa... then there's no need to have a visa issuing department at all on the borders. You can go fetch a business visa from an embassy and find out that 99.999999% of expats in Cambodia no longer qualify for one.

[vladimir]

There would still be a need, because I don't know of a single country that is visa free to all nationalities.

They would probably give free visas to US/UK/some others, but not all, and someone has to check those other nationals.

Might see an increase for other nationals to balance the freebies

[TheGrinchSR]

There would still be a need, because I don't know of a single country that is visa free to all nationalities.

They would probably give free visas to US/UK/some others, but not all, and someone has to check those other nationals.

Might see an increase for other nationals to balance the freebies

Yes, and those countries' nationals will be told to apply at their embassy before they come to Cambodia. Which is what happens if you want to enter Thailand or Vietnam without qualifying for a visa waiver.

[hanno]

"Unlike Vietnam or Thailand that visa is easily purchased"

Thailand? Really?

[BOFH]

Vietnam has exempted certain countries from visas for years, I don't see why this would all of a sudden make a splash. Citizens of Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, The Philippines, Laos, Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam, Japan, South Korea, Cambodia, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Russia already get into Vietnam without visas. If it hasn't "affected" Cambodian tourism before, why now?

You can go fetch a business visa from an embassy and find out that 99.999999% of expats in Cambodia no longer qualify for one.

And why's that, because you think 99.999999% of expats don't have local jobs or businesses? From http://www.embassyofcambodia.org/visa.html

If apply for business visa: you will need supporting documentation such as a letterhead from your company and/or invitation from Cambodia and along with all above requirements.

What other requirements were you thinking that were impossible to meet for 99.99% of us? I am sure more than your rough 0% can get a letterhead issued from a local business here. I know tons of people that could get such letterheads from their employers, and therefore quality for business visas, so it would be weird if you don't. Almost a majority of the people that I know qualify, and the ones that don't can easily get bullshit employments from people that do.

Oh and by the way. That invitation from Cambodia, you can get it simply by writing to the embassy and expressing your wish to come here. I have personally received an "invitation from Cambodia", it'd be ridiculous to claim it to be impossible to receive. It doesn't even cost anything, all you have to do is write them a letter and you're invited.

Deathpaths and GSM frequenters will have a hard time sticking around, I'll agree on that.