With the global financial crisis declining the number of tourists, Cambodia and Thailand made discussion about the idea of speeding up the tourism industry by providing a single visa for tourist travelers after Foreign Affair Minister Hor Namhong returned a two-day meeting in Thailand on Wednesday evening.

He said at the Phnom Penh International airport that the both Cambodia and Thailand have signed agreement and promised to push for the implementation of the plan as soon as possible. And he also added that the both countries will open another checkpoint for commercial traffic in southeastern Poipet.

Providing a single visa means that Cambodia issues a visa that a tourist is able to visit Thailand and if Thailand gives a visa, tourist also can travel to Cambodia.

The both countries used to sign a tentative agreement to introduce the single visa in November 2005 but to date no formal arrangement has been reached.

Minister of Tourism Thong Khon was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying Thursday that the joint tourist visa would bring both countries benefits by boosting tourism, and that the neighbors also plan to create visa exemptions for each other’s citizens from 2010.

“The tourism industry is eagerly awaiting the passage of the single travel document since it is largely expected to boost visits to both countries, adding that travel agents would use the system to their advantage by creating vacation packages that would incorporate stays in both countries, said Ho Vandy, co-chairman of the government-private sector tourism working group, quoted by the Cambodia as saying.

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