Thailand-Cambodia joint visa delayed

Implementation of the proposed Thailand-Cambodia joint entry visa is likely to be pushed back much further than the already expired Nov 21 target previously scheduled.

Since 2004, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar have been working, under the Irrawaddy-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy, on introducing a single visa for visitors covering all five countries as a means of promoting tourism in the region.

Thailand and Cambodia are expected to be the first two countries to implement the visa agreement, as arranged in 2007.

Only citizens of non-Asean countries would be eligible to apply for the joint visa.

In early November, Thai Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt-Gen Panu Kerdlappol said the Thailand-Cambodia joint visa programme was likely to be signed into effect by Nov 21.

However, Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon told the Phnom Penh Post on Wednesday that no agreement over the joint single visa had been reached.

Thong Khon stressed that Cambodia is ready move forward with the plan, despite the fact that nothing has yet been finalised.

Sourced: bangkokpost