PHNOM PENH: Cambodia is set to launch a trial “e-Arrival Card” scheme for all travellers to the Southeast Asian country, starting from Jan 1, 2024, said a Ministry of Interior announcement.

The e-Arrival Card will replace the plethora of paper forms that are currently required on arrival.

The announcement on Wednesday said the e-Arrival Card will make it easier for foreign travellers and Cambodian citizens who enter Cambodia through international airports to complete the immigration formalities and health procedures in one form, reported Xinhua.

“During the trial period from Jan 1 to June 30, 2024, passengers have an option to fill in an electronic form or fill in an immigration, customs and health information on a paper form,“ the announcement said.

All passengers will be required to fill in an electronic form when the e-Arrival Card scheme is officially launched from July 1, 2024, it added.

Tourism is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy, in addition to garment, footwear and travel goods export, agriculture, and construction and real estate.

The kingdom recorded 4.4 million international tourists in the first 10 months of 2023, a significant rise of around 180 per cent from 1.57 million over the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Tourism.-Bernama