Background
The Minister of Tourism, H.E. Hout Hak, served as chair and delivered remarks at a ceremony launching the “cross-border payment service and Cambodia–China tourism credit card”. The event was organized by Bank of China, Phnom Penh Branch, and held at Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh. Attendees included the Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Embassy of China to Cambodia, representatives of Bank of China Hong Kong, the National Bank of Cambodia, and various public, private, tourism, financial, and business stakeholders.
In his remarks, the Minister commended the initiative to establish the Cambodia–China tourism credit card as a new tourism product that supports digital transformation in tourism and financial services. The launch is framed within the broader Cambodia–China cooperation agenda, including the “Diamond” cooperation framework and the “Cambodia–China Tourism Year” campaign.
Scope of Application
The cross-border payment service and Cambodia–China tourism credit card are designed for Chinese and international tourists traveling to Cambodia. The products enable visitors to make cross-border payments in Cambodia through QR code-based systems. The initiative primarily targets tourism-related spending and aims to facilitate transactions for inbound visitors from China and other countries.
Key Provisions or Decisions
The ceremony marked the operational launch of:
- A cross-border payment service enabling QR code payments by foreign visitors in Cambodia.
- The Cambodia–China tourism credit card as a dedicated tourism payment product.
The Minister of Tourism expressed high appreciation for the concept and implementation of these services by Bank of China Phnom Penh Branch under the Cambodia–China “Diamond” cooperation framework. The initiative is presented as a new achievement in digital transformation for tourism, finance, and cross-border QR payment systems between the two countries.
The Minister also extended gratitude to the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia and Chinese banks, including Bank of China Phnom Penh Branch, for their continued cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism in supporting the development of Cambodia’s tourism sector and in promoting increased arrivals of Chinese and international tourists in 2026 under the “Cambodia–China Tourism Year” campaign.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The launch of the Cambodia–China tourism credit card and cross-border QR payment service provides an additional payment channel for tourism-related businesses in Cambodia that serve Chinese and international visitors. Tourism enterprises and related service providers may benefit from improved payment convenience and potentially higher spending by tourists able to use familiar digital payment methods. The initiative underscores the growing integration of digital payment solutions into Cambodia’s tourism ecosystem, particularly in the context of Cambodia–China cooperation.
Official Source
The information is based on an announcement by the Ministry of Tourism published on its official Facebook page on 18 March 2026.
