Cross-Border Tourism Suffers As Cambodia-Thai Dispute Drags

By Vijian Paramasivam

PHNOM PENH, July 1 (Bernama) -- Cross-border tourism between Cambodia and Thailand has dropped due to the ongoing diplomatic dispute between both countries.

However, domestic travel near Preah Vihear province is thriving. 

The movement of people and goods across the border between the two countries has come to a grinding halt following the closure of border crossing points. 

Both governments have been engaged in an altercation following a May 28 skirmish between Cambodian and Thai troops. 

“Since the conflict, tourism exchanges with Thailand—both border crossings and air travel—have significantly declined, heavily impacting both sides. 

“However, on the Cambodian side, there has been a noticeable increase in travel activity, as many Cambodians visit disputed areas such as Preah Vihear Temple and other nearby sites. 

"This trend is also observed along other border regions, where local communities support frontline soldiers and their families,” Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Cambodia Chapter President Thourn Sinan told Bernama.

Domestic tourism in areas such as Sra Em in Preah Vihear has increased, with Cambodians visiting to support troops and locals. 

Hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants in these areas are currently operating at full capacity on weekends, he said. 

Thailand-Cambodia diplomatic relations became hostile following the May 28 brief exchange of gunfire between soldiers of both countries stationed near the Preah Vihear province in northern Cambodia. One Cambodian soldier died in the incident. 

The dispute, besides straining bilateral ties, also damaged trade activities in the border areas. Both countries share an 817-kilometre-long border. 

Sinan said Cambodia shares over 10 official checkpoints with Thailand along the border. However, only five of these are regularly used by international tourists. The remaining checkpoints mainly serve trade and local border movement.

The busy Aranyaprathet-Poipet border checkpoint, an important route to the world-famous Angkor Wat, is also closed.

Only patients seeking medical care and students continue to cross over to Thailand at present.

There has been no interruption to air services.

“Flights between both countries are still operating but Cambodian outbound travel to Thailand has plummeted by about 95 per cent due to safety concerns and growing anti-Cambodian sentiment in Thailand.

“The overall stability of air travel is uncertain, as it depends on Thailand’s internal political dynamics, which remain volatile,” he said.

At the centre of the controversy are the territories where the ancient temples of Ta Muen Thom, Ta Muen Toch, and Ta Krabey are located, and the Emerald Triangle bordering Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos.  

Cambodia has refused to hold bilateral talks to resolve the decades-long issue but instead referred the dispute to the International Court of Justice on June 15. 

 --  BERNAMA