Background
Policy context: the Royal Government of Cambodia implemented a pilot visa exemption for Chinese citizens as a time-limited policy measure aimed at increasing inbound tourism and investor visits. The pilot visa exemption for Chinese citizens was implemented from 15 June to 15 October 2026.
Governance mechanism: an inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Minister of Tourism coordinated the pilot and reviewed operational progress during the initial implementation window. An inter-ministerial committee chaired by the Minister of Tourism led coordination and reviewed the policy’s practical progress during 15 June–14 August 2026.
Key Developments
On 14 August 2026 H.E. Huot Hak, Minister of Tourism, chaired a meeting of the Inter‑Ministerial Committee to assess strengths, shortcomings and operational challenges from the near two-month implementation period (15 June–14 August). Participants at the meeting included representatives from the Office of the Council of Ministers, the State Secretariat of Civil Aviation, the General Department of Immigration, the General Commissariat of National Police, and private‑sector tourism associations; the meeting reported 42 attendees in total.
Following prior coordination work, the Royal Government granted high‑level approval in principle for the establishment of information counters at international gateways to assist tourists during the pilot period. The information counters concept was endorsed after earlier cross‑sector discussions held on 25 May 2026 and assigned to the inter‑ministerial mechanism for implementation support.
Institutional Role
The Inter‑Ministerial Committee for Facilitating Travel and Transport at international checkpoints is the designated lead body for coordinating operational measures related to the pilot visa exemption. Membership combines central ministries, security agencies, civil aviation authorities and private tourism bodies to align border procedures and visitor services.
Market Impact
Operational data cited by Angkor Enterprise show measurable short‑term changes in visitor behaviour: from 15 June to 12 August 2026, the number of Chinese tourists purchasing admission tickets to the Angkor Archaeological Park increased by approximately 13.23% compared with the same period in 2025. The Ministry of Tourism described the pilot as a strategic step to attract greater flows of Chinese tourists and investors during the pilot window.
