A deal allowing Cambodian and Vietnamese citizens to cross the border between the two countries without a visa will be extended from January 1 to allow visits of up to 30 days, according to Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong said people holding ordinary passports valid for at least six months are only allowed to visit the neighbouring country for 14 days without a visa, based on a bilateral agreement signed November 4, 2008.

He said he hoped the move would give a further boost to the tourism sector, as was seen following the initial agreement.

“There are many tourism sites in Cambodia and Vietnam,” he said.

“If they only get a short time to visit, how can they visit them all? The longer they stay, the more money they spend.”

In the first nine months of the year, 42.82 percent more Vietnamese visited the Kingdom compared with the same period last year, which analysts have said is largely the result of the visa exemption.

Arrivals from Laos, which has a 30-day visa exemption agreement, were up 92 percent over the period, though from a much lower base.