Cambodia may ease visas for Russians

PHNOM PENH  Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism has asked the government to grant Russian visitors visa-free entry.

Khmer Times media quoted Tourism Minister Thong Khon saying Russia was a lucrative market and a visa-free stay would help to boost arrivals. At present they have to obtain a visa-on-arrival.

“We want to exempt Russian tourists from applying for a visa in order to attract more Russian guests to the kingdom.”

He added: “To be able to attract Russian tourists, it would be good to have direct flights… Young Russian tourists are big spenders and older Russians can apply for a longer stay in the country.”

In November last year, Cambodia and Russia signed an air transport services agreement to facilitate direct flights between the two countries.

There have been no direct flights between the two countries since Russia’s national airline, Aeroflot, ended flights between Moscow and Phnom Penh in the early 1990s. Currently, travellers must fly via neighbouring countries such as Vietnam or Thailand.

Cambodia grants visa exemption to Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, member-nations of ASEAN and is cooperating with Thailand to offer a two-country visa applied for at embassy of the first point of entry.

Nationals of other countries can obtain a visa-on-arrival for tourism (USD30) or for a business visit (USD35), for a maximum stay of 30 days.

Last year, Cambodia attracted 55,500 Russian tourists to the country down 48.9% from 108,601 visits in 2014.

The main gateway, Thailand, also suffered substantial loses in Russian arrivals in 2015, but it still remains a top five market.