Report by : Gan Yung Chyan
/ KUCINTA SETIA
There are concerns on spikes in travel cost during the so-called "post-pandemic" period when countries "no longer" affected by covid allow foreign tourists from other countries to enter. An example is Cambodia where all 124 confirmed covid cases have recovered and discharged.
Unable to avoid the second wave of covid as it has not closed its borders to foreigners, Cambodia is imposing covid prevention, test, isolation and treatment budget on all foreigners.
Cambodia Health Minister, Mam Bun Heng, revealed that Cambodia's Ministry of Health is setting up bank counters at the Cambodian airport of Phnom Penh to facilitate tourists to go through bank procedures and purchase medical insurance including the SARS-CoV-2 detection deposit a sum of 3,000 US dollars. The cost will be used as part of the cost of the covid testing and isolation in Cambodia.
The bank counters are managed by staff of Acleda Bank Plc and Canadia Bank Plc.
According to a notice from the Cambodian Ministry of Health on 10 June 2020, the Phnom Penh government has strengthened cooperation with the Cambodian Ministry of Internal Affairs’ Immigration Bureau, General Administration of Customs, Civil Aviation Administration and Phnom Penh International Airport in the prevention and control of covid epidemic.
Previously, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of Cambodia once again emphasized that all foreigners entering Cambodia need to have a certificate issued by the competent medical and health authority within 72 hours of a negative result of the SARS-CoV-2 test.
In addition, the proof of insurance policy for foreign tourists during their stay in Cambodia with a minimum medical insurance amount of not less than 50,000 US Dollars is required to strictly abide by the Cambodian government’s anti-epidemic measures.
According to the travel restrictions, foreign officials entering Cambodia who hold diplomatic or official visas are exempted from health certificate and health insurance requirements.
Meanwhile, according to The Phnom Penh Post's report on 10 June 2020, the Cambodia Ministry of Economy and Finance has determined its covid testing fees for incoming foreigners who are quarantined or treated at hospitals in the Kingdom.
The fees vary significantly in price, from 5 to 1500 US Dollars depending on the service. These are besides the SARS-CoV-2 detection deposits at Cambodian airports.
The Ministry also requested that foreigners who test positive for covid purchase local health insurance.
In a letter sent to Minister of Health Mam Bun Heng on Monday, Finance Minister Aun Pornmoniroth said that foreign passengers would be required to pay at least 160 US Dollars for testing, transportation, accommodation and food.
Foreign travellers arriving on planes with a confirmed covid patient will be required to quarantine at a hotel or health centre and pay at least $180 for each service.
A health certificate will cost 30 US Dollars in Cambodia. Patients requiring treatment or emergency services will be billed up to 1500 US Dollars.
Pornmoniroth said foreign passengers should pay the fees directly to the service provider.
Cambodia is the only country in Southeast Asia that still allows international passenger flights to land in Phnom Penh during the pandemic, with scores of flights to the People's Republic of China, South Korea, Vietnam and the Philippines. Despite no new cases, it has recently been embroiled in the controversies of exporting covid cases to the PRC and Vietnam.
Passenger flights from overseas cities to Siem Reap and Sihanoukville, mostly leisure flights, are suspended indefinitely. Phnom Penh is the administrative and business capital of Cambodia. The bulk of overseas travel to Phnom Penh is currently essential and business travel.
Refs:
Long Kimmarita, Check-up fees set for incoming foreigners, The Phnom Penh Post, https://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/check-fees-set-incoming-foreigners
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