The Cambodian government has reduced the cash deposit for the COVID-19 service charges from foreign travelers from 3,000 to 2,000 U.S. dollars, according to its statement on Monday.
The statement said foreign travelers are required to deposit 2,000 dollars by cash or credit card upon their arrival at international airports in Cambodia, which will be used to cover hotel accommodation cost while waiting for COVID-19 test result, medical examination, local transportation cost from the airport to a reserved hotel and expenses during a quarantine period in case that any fellow travelers are tested positive for COVID-19.
Before coming to Cambodia, foreign travelers must have a 72 hours "COVID-19 free" health certificate and must purchase a local health insurance package for COVID-19 treatment, with a cost of 90 U.S. dollars that is valid for 20 days, it said, adding that this insurance package can be purchased from local Forte Insurance Company that can be reached through: https://www.forteinsurance.com/covid-19-insurance/.
The remainder of the deposit will be returned if the passenger and the rest of the people on their flight have negative test results. Even so, they must self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival in their chosen accommodation, and they will undergo a second COVID-19 swab test on the 13th day.
If anyone of the passengers is tested positive for the virus, the rest of the passengers in the same flight will be quarantined for 14 days, and each of them will be required to pay for tests, a hotel or quarantine facility, meals, and doctors, and all of these costs will be automatically deducted from the deposit.
According to the statement, Cambodia has also eased entry restrictions for "sponsored" business-linked travelers during the COVID-19 period.
The business-linked travelers are defined as foreign investors, businesspersons, company staff, experts, skilled workers, technicians and their family members, it said.
The statement added that the "sponsored" business-linked travelers are not required to pay the cash deposit, but they must have a validation certificate on payment guarantee, a 72 hours "COVID-19 free" health certificate, and a letter confirming an online hotel booking.
To receive the validation certificate on payment guarantee, the business-linked travelers must be sponsored by a chief executive officer or a major shareholder of a company that the foreign travelers are currently working for, it said, adding that the sponsor must request for an online sponsorship at the Cambodian government's Business Registration website: www.registrationservices.gov.kh.
"After examining the validity of the guarantee which will take one day, the Royal Government of Cambodia will issue the validation certificate on payment guarantee that can be printed to be used for visa application at Royal Cambodian Embassies or Consulates, and to be carried while traveling to Cambodia," the statement said.
The Southeast Asian nation has so far recorded a total of 240 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 197 patients cured and 43 remained in hospital.