Foreign tourists must pay 53000 US Dollars including insurance to enter Cambodia

Report by : Gan Yung Chyan

                  / KUCINTA SETIA

   Image courtesy : Fresh News

According to The Phnom Penh Post, the Cambodian government has decided to allow foreign diplomatic officials to enter the country without having to pay health insurance covering at least 50,000 US Dollars or depositing 3,000 US Dollars, both requirements for foreign tourists. They will also receive free medical treatment if they test positive for covid.

The decision was made during an inter-ministerial committee meeting on the fight against covid at the Cambodia Ministry of Health on 15 June 2020.

Led by Health Minister Mam Bun Heng, the meeting was attended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) country director, ambassadors of 10 countries including the US, Australia and France, and representatives of diplomatic missions from 21 other countries.

Cambodia Ministry Secretary of State York Sambath confirmed that diplomatic officials would not be subject to the requirements imposed upon foreigners entering the country. 

Sambath said, "In addition, we will not take them [diplomatic officials] to stay at a hotel. They will be able to quarantine at their embassy and their homes. But they must respect the health ministry’s prevention measures, one of which is not allowing travel during quarantine and until a second test is performed.” 

The exemption for diplomatic officials came at the same time the ministry issued a notice requiring foreign tourists to deposit $3,000 when they enter Cambodia to cover the cost of testing, quarantining and travelling.

Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth said in a June 8 letter that foreigners would be required to pay between $5 and $100 for services such as testing and medical treatment.

If a foreigner dies from the virus, 1,500 US Dollars, which includes related fees, would be collected for cremation services.

Since 20 May 2020, Cambodia has required all passengers travelling from abroad to be sent to health check facilities for testing. They then have to quarantine for 14 days as the country attempts to prevent a second wave of the disease.