Cambodia scraps off Covid testing requirements for foreign travellers

Cambodia has dispensed with a requirement for visitors from overseas to take Covid-19 tests, as the country moved ahead of most neighbours by relaxing most restrictions to spur more investment and tourism, officials said. The Southeast Asian country has vaccinated 92.31% of its population of 16 million against the coronavirus, one of the highest vaccination rates in the region, official data shows.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said the new rules would start from this week and should help boost tourism and business. “Now it’s the stage to open the economy by learning how to live with Covid,” Hun Sen said. Foreign visitors would still need to be fully vaccinated and those unable to show proof of vaccination would need to be remain in quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

Even with the removal of mandatory testing, authorities called on visitors to test themselves. “The Ministry of Health would like to urge all travellers that they should do rapid tests,” Health Minister Mam Bunheng said. Authorities also plan to resume issuing visas on arrival, which were suspended during the pandemic, though the statement from the health ministry did not confirm when this would start.