December 4, 2025 | 09:58 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Cambodian government announced on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, that it will be trialing a visa-free policy for Chinese tourists. This move is aimed at attracting a greater share of the Chinese tourist market amid intense competition within the Southeast Asian tourism industry.
As reported by Khmer Times, the visa-free policy will be in effect for a four-month pilot period, running from June 15 to October 15, 2026.
Under this visa waiver program, Chinese nationals may visit Cambodia for up to 14 days without needing to apply for a visa or pay any fees. Travelers will only be required to fill out an E-arrival card.
Tourism Minister Huot Hak stated that this visa waiver is being implemented for the first time as a significant part of the country's tourism promotion efforts.
"We are implementing this exemption to show good progress, so that the government can consider extending it from 4 months to 12 months," Hak said during an event held last weekend.
Hak also urged tourism industry associations, tour operators, and the private sector to develop appealing tour packages for Chinese nationals to capitalize on and encourage an increase in visits to Cambodia.
Tourist Searches Skyrocket Following Announcement
The policy announcement immediately triggered a surge in interest from Chinese travelers. A Chinese online travel platform, Qunar.com, reported a significant increase in searches for several Cambodian destinations, most notably Angkor Wat.
According to a statement provided by Qunar.com to Global Times on Wednesday, December 4, 2025, flight ticket searches to Phnom Penh (Dakhmao Airport) and Siem Reap experienced a notable increase after the news broke.
Flight searches from Shanghai, Beijing, and Shenzhen to Phnom Penh increased 5.2 times, 4.3 times, and 3 times, respectively, compared to one hour earlier.
Most flight fares from major Chinese cities to Dakhmao Airport are now priced below 1,000 yuan (approximately Rp2.4 million), with fares from cities like Guangzhou and Shenzhen dropping below 500 yuan (approximately Rp1.8 million).
Siem Reap, home to the UNESCO World Heritage site Angkor Wat, saw flight searches for the Shanghai-Siem Reap route jump fivefold.
The visa-free policy trial is aligned with existing tourism cooperation goals and is expected to further facilitate bilateral travel and deepen cultural exchanges.
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