Cambodia and Thailand will further strengthen tourism sector cooperation to promote flows between the two countries and third-country tourist crossings.

This was the result of a meeting between the two countries’ tourism ministers in Kampot province on Wednesday.

The two sides also agreed on some key points such as strengthening relations with each other, facilitating travelling, improving the visa process and border crossings, promoting the potential for reciprocal tourism, Single-Visa usage and participation in tourism exhibitions.

Cambodia Association of Travel Agents president Chhay Sivlin said strengthening cooperation with Thailand is critical for the tourism sector.

“Thailand has a lot of people and many international direct flights. So if we have good cooperation and use of the Single-Visa [agreement], it will help Cambodia get more tourists,” she said, adding that Cambodia and Thailand are currently seeking to implement the Single-Visa.

Data from the Ministry of Tourism says in the first eight months of this year, Cambodia received 3.9 million international tourists – up 11.7 per cent from year-on-year – of which Thai tourists, amounting to 210,286, fell 3.9 per cent.