CAMBODIA and Vietnam have agreed to increase the number of vehicles permitted to travel through the Trapeang Sre border gate in Kratie province, aiming to boost cross-border commerce and tourism.

The agreement allows 300 vehicles from each country to register to pass freely through the border gate, said Soun Van Hong, Deputy Director of the Land Transport Department at the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

“At present, we’ve extended the quota to allow only business and tourism traffic through the border,” he said.

This is the third extension to the quota for Trapeang Sre gate, which connects with Vietnam’s Hoa Lu gate in Binh Phuoc province. It previously allowed 150 registered vehicles to travel over the border, he said.

Another ceremony at Rattanakiri province’s Andong Meas international border checkpoint has been slated for next year.

“I hope this allows for more vehicles to pass through the checkpoint, and in turn boosting bilateral business,” said Soun Van Hong.

Although tourism companies said they welcomed the increase in the quota, some say they are yet to expand operations through the checkpoint.

“We wholly support the decision of the two governments, but currently, we have not decided to run additional buses at the border,” said Paramount Tours Owner and Cambodia Bus Association Board Director Sok Chanmony.

“We hope this amendment will boost local economies in the short and long term."