Lao PDR to open Siem Reap consulate

PHNOM PENH, 18 April 2014: Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Laos plans to establish consulate general office in Siem Reap province to boost bilateral cooperation to support tourism and trade.
The ministry spokesman, Koy Koung, was quoted saying more Lao tourists visit Cambodia and there is a need for a general consulate based in Siem Reap to serve Lao travellers and also help to encourage more travel to Lao PDR.
Lao Airline is also planning to add more flights to Cambodia. It already flies to Phnom Penh from Vientiane and Siem Reap from the Lao capital and Pakse.
Siem Reap is the most popular tourist town in Cambodia and there are plans to open up new routes to spread tourism to lesser known heritage sites such as the temple complex of Preah Vihear that stands on an escarpment almost on the border with Thailand.
The Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the new consulate will make it easier for tourists to obtain visas to visit Laos.
In April last year, a delegation from Lao PDR proposed a joint visa scheme with Cambodia, similar to the one Cambodia developed with Thailand.
Thailand and Cambodia jointly introduced a single visa scheme in 2012 as a pilot project that will ultimately include five countries of the Mekong Region and possibly ASEAN countries that see the advantage of joining the scheme.
In the initial agreement the single visa was supposed to be developed to ease travel to Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam under the title “five countries, one destination” strategy.
Last year, tourists visiting Cambodia from Laos reached 414,513 trips, up 63% from 254,022 in 2012, according to Cambodian Ministry of Tourism.

Sourced: ttrweekly