The economy of the two Asian countries is largely based on tourism. If the hard conflict can be a disaster, says a tour operator installed in Cambodia.
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The border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand, which has been running for a long time, degenerated Thursday, July 24, into confrontations with combat aircraft, tanks, ground troops and artillery. The fighting left around thirty people dead.
The conflict is concentrated on the border between the two countries, but tour operators and tourist guides are very worried: during this time of year, the two countries usually receive many French tourists. Jacques Guichandut, boss of a travel agency in Phnom Penh, says that the only signs of the conflict in the Cambodian capital are the collections for the displaced populations. But tourists already contact him to cancel their trip: “Insofar as there is an armed conflict in the country, the European Union gives each customer the opportunity to cancel free of charge. I have a client who was to arrive on August 10 and who told me that given the situation, he wishes to cancel his trip.”
“For us, it will be a series of cancellations from people who are not going to come.”
Jacques Guichandutin franceinfo
Cambodia receives six million tourists a year. 60,000 French people have come since the start of the year. For Jacques Guichandut, if the conflict lasts it can be a disaster for the country’s economy. “The whole question is how long it will last. If it stops in two or three days, it’s okay. Otherwise …” The tour operator adds that we “Absolutely did not expect it. There had already been tensions with Thailand, but not an armed conflict. No one imagined it.”
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs is strongly advised not to go less than 50 km from the border, but for the moment tourists can continue to travel to the two countries.
