Cambodia considers new visa exemptions as tourism declines

Expanding visa-free entry is now among the measures Cambodia is considering as it seeks to reverse a decline in international tourism.

On August 4, 2026, government and private-sector representatives met at the Ministry of Tourism to assess measures already underway and consider new proposals aimed at supporting the tourism industry.

Among the requests submitted by industry representatives was the introduction of visa exemptions for several tourism markets identified as priorities.

The measure has not been adopted. Still, the fact that it was discussed by an official body chaired by the tourism minister shows that easing entry requirements is playing an increasingly prominent role in discussions about reviving the sector.

Government and private sector review visa exemption request

The meeting focused on the Tourism Working Group, known as Working Group B, which operates under the Government-Private Sector Forum.

According to an official statement from Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism, the group serves as a platform for dialogue between the Royal Government and the business community. It monitors progress on previously agreed measures, addresses challenges facing tourism professionals and reviews private-sector requests.

The meeting was chaired by Tourism Minister Huot Hak alongside Luu Meng, co-chair of the working group. Around 150 participants represented relevant government ministries, the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, industry associations and tourism operators.

A total of 11 private-sector requests were reviewed, including:

• visa exemptions for priority tourism markets;
• the creation of a tourism development fund;
• stronger international promotion of Cambodia;
• turning major national events into internationally recognized events;
• better air connections between destinations within Cambodia;
• more direct flights from key source markets;
• a more favorable business and investment environment for the tourism sector.

Discussions also addressed the need for closer coordination among the Ministry of Tourism, civil aviation authorities, airlines and industry representatives to develop new international routes.

Cambodia acknowledges a significant drop in international arrivals

During the meeting, Huot Hak acknowledged that Cambodia had “faced a noticeable decline in international tourist arrivals during the first half of 2026.”

The minister attributed the slowdown to several factors, including negative publicity linking the country to technology-enabled scams, difficulties along the Cambodia-Thailand border and tensions in the Middle East, which have contributed to higher fuel prices and more expensive international travel.

Against this backdrop, the government says it has already introduced several measures to support tourism businesses.

The working group identified 22 measures that have now been fully implemented. The two most recent involve developing Phnom Kulen as a nature-focused destination and creating “green belts” in tourism areas following an agreement signed on August 1 by the ministries of Tourism and Agriculture.

At the end of the meeting, participants proposed several urgent steps to restore Cambodia’s international image, rebuild traveler confidence, expand tourism promotion and attract more major events.

However, the ministry’s statement does not specify whether the visa exemption proposal will be formally submitted to the government or implemented in the near future.

EuroCham calls for up to 30 days of visa-free travel in Cambodia

The August 4 meeting came just days after a renewed push from the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia, known as EuroCham.

On July 31, 2026, the organization announced that it had sent a follow-up letter to the Ministry of Economy and Finance regarding its visa policy recommendation.

EuroCham is proposing visa-free stays of up to 30 days in Cambodia, at least through December 31, 2027, for travelers from:

• European countries;
• the United States;
• Japan;
• South Korea;
• Australia;
• New Zealand.

The chamber is also recommending a streamlined process allowing digital nomads and remote workers to remain in Cambodia for three to six months.

The proposal is supported by the results of EuroCham’s Business Pulse H2 2026 survey, which gathered responses from 154 member companies.

In the tourism and hospitality sector, 52.4% of respondents said their revenue during the first half of 2026 was well below target. Another 38.1% reported results slightly below expectations.

More than nine out of 10 tourism businesses surveyed therefore failed to meet their revenue targets. The figure applies only to EuroCham members that participated in the study and does not represent every hotel or tourism operator in Cambodia.

Visa policy presented as an economic tool

EuroCham believes that temporarily giving up visa fee revenue could be offset by an increase in visitor numbers and spending within Cambodia.

Hotels, restaurants, transportation providers, retailers and tourism businesses would all benefit directly from higher international arrivals.

In its official visa policy recommendation, the chamber urges the Cambodian government to consider visa-free entry for 15, 30 or 45 days for both tourism and business travel.

It argues that lower visa revenue could be offset by additional tax receipts generated through greater domestic spending.

EuroCham first presented these proposals in May as part of its 2027 White Book, while the tourism minister had also opened the door to a possible visa exemption for European travelers. However, the chamber’s advocacy tracker indicates that no official government response has yet been recorded.

Visa-free trial for Chinese travelers could serve as a test

Cambodia is already testing a temporary visa exemption for Chinese travelers.

From June 15 through October 15, 2026, holders of passports issued by mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao may enter Cambodia without a visa for stays of up to 14 days.

The program allows multiple entries during the trial period. Eligible travelers must still complete the Cambodia e-Arrival Card before reaching the country.

Full conditions are available through the Cambodian government’s official e-Visa portal.

The trial has been presented as a way to assess how targeted visa-free access affects tourist arrivals. It could also provide a model if the government decides to extend similar privileges to other markets.