Phnom Penh: Cambodia opened its border to carry out a fully vaccinated traveler on Monday, two weeks earlier than planned, because it emerged from a long locker supported by one of the highest immunization levels in the world against Covid-19.
This program allows visitors to pass quarantine steps if they are fully vaccinated, negative testing 72 hours before they enter the country and negative test on their arrival.
Prime Minister Hun Sen decided to rise opening from November 30 to November 15 to begin revitalizing the country’s economic and social activities as soon as possible, supported by the fact that 88% of Cambodia is now fully vaccinated.
“The situation has changed,” Hun Sen said on an audio message distributed on social media.
The previous plan has been to the phase in the reopening with initially limiting travelers to two coastal provinces, but the new scheme means that tourists who are fully vaccinated will be free to visit anywhere in the country after a negative test, the ministry said.
Tourists who are not vaccinated still have to undergo a 14-day quarantine that is tight on arrival and undergo a series of Coronavirus tests before they can travel further.
Cambodia in 2019, before Pandemic, received 6.6 million foreigners who contributed nearly $ 5 billion in income.
Most of them visit the famous Angkor temples in Siem Reap provinces and seafront destinations, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
In 2020, the number of visitors fell sharply to 1.3 million and their income fell to around $ 1 billion.
Cambodian vaccination drive starts slowly but has increased rapidly.
Children from the age of 5 years and above have been included in the program since early November.
Domestic tourism restrictions, schools and other sectors were also appointed at the beginning of the month.
The Ministry of Health reported 52 new Covid-19 cases Monday and five deaths, bringing Cambodia’s total to 119,588 cases and 2,872 fatalities since the start of the Pandemic.