VietNamNet Bridge – Many local tour operators have run into rapture at the news of visa exemption for holders of ordinary passports between Vietnam and Cambodia, saying the pact would be a springboard to spur travel between the two countries.

The majority of local visitors travel to the neighboring country via Moc Bai border gate in the southern province of Tay Ninh for trips to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap during four to five days, and each of them is now charged a visa fee of between US$20 and US$25.

Travel firms in HCMC said that the number of local people to travel to Cambodia is increasing quickly, and will be further bolstered once the visa agreement takes effect.

The majority of local visitors travel to the neighboring country via Moc Bai border gate in the southern province of Tay Ninh for trips to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap during four to five days, and each of them is now charged a visa fee of between US$20 and US$25.

Ta Thi Cam Vinh, head of Ben Thanh Tourist’s outbound department, which is arranging tours for around 2,000 Vietnam travelers to Cambodia this year, showed her happiness at the new agreement.

“The number of the guests will increase if tourists can travel to the country without visa,” she said. The number of travelers to Cambodia via her company this year is expected to increase by 100%.

“We think that we will combine with some Cambodian partners to launch a promotion program for Vietnam travelers on the occasion (of visa requirement being abolished)”, Vinh said.

Many travelers have complained about the high visa requirement, saying they felt it very inconvenient to spend much time and money for this procedure to enter to the neighboring country. Once the visa requirement is dropped, they can use the money to buy a one-way car ticket from HCMC to Siem Reap.

At Peace Tour, the number of local travelers to Cambodia this year is also expected to double. The company has obtained licenses from the two countries’ transport ministries for its vehicles to travel between the two sides directly, so the new visa agreement would give Peace Tour a strong boost.

“I really want to know when visitors can travel to Cambodia without visa. It’s good condition for our business,” said the company’s director Nguyen Thi Hoa Le.

Le expected a new wave of local travelers into Cambodia upon the new rule “because they can travel to Cambodia easily like to domestic destinations like Danang and Hanoi.”

Like Peace Tour, Sapaco Tourist is also carrying same services. However, Sapaco offers tours for its travelers on Thursdays only. On other weekdays the company operates as a transport company catering to travel firms and other guests.

“My company has over 700 Vietnamese and Cambodian guests per day. I hope the guests will increase strongly,” said Pham Van Toi, director of the company.

The company runs 12 trips between HCMC and Phnom Penh per day with a one-way ticket costing over US$12, and daily trips between HCMC and Siem Riep costing US$22 a passenger.

Saigontourist Travel Service Company has also had bookings from nearly 7,500 local passengers to Cambodia in 11 months this year, up 48% year-on-year. The company has two regular trips there per week.

Doan Thi Thanh Tra, marketing manager of the company, said if the new rule takes effect before the Lunar New Year of 2009, “our company can woo more overseas Vietnamese to travel with us to Cambodia.”

(Source: SGT)