Cambodia issues new border regulations for neighboring foreigners

PHNOM PENH, People of the bordering provinces of Thailand, Vietnam and Laos with border passes issued by their governments can stay in the bordering provinces of Cambodia for one week, the Commercial News reported on Friday.

This measure aims to facilitate cross-border trade and shore up the tourist sector, one of Cambodia's pillar industries, the Chinese-language daily newspaper quoted Tourism Minister Thong Khon as saying.

In addition, Vietnamese and Lao people with passports can travel in Cambodia within a period of one month, without applying for visa, he said.

"They can also drive their cars into our country, with their automobile insurance certificates," he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, the minister told a press conference that foreign tourist arrivals in Cambodia dropped by 2.19 percent in January, compared with the same month in 2008.

Cambodia received around 2 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2008, a 5.5 percent rise over 2007, but slightly lower than the government's expectation, according to official figures.