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As the title of this video suggests, we opposing the question: "Could Cambodia supply Thailand from a tourism perspective?" The reason I got to thinking of this, I was reading recent article from the Pattaya Mail, that is pattayamail.com, the article is titled: Cambodian tourism will be the "New Thailand". Quoting directly, and I urge those who are watching this video, check this article out, a lot going on in here. Quoting directly: "While Thai Authorities seek to diversify foreign tourism beyond sexpots and seriously ponder 10 year visas for super-rich investors and retirees, neighboring Cambodia is preparing for a mass international influx starting soon." Just to stop there. "Mass International influx” from where? I mean one of the big issues, and I haven't really gotten into this because first things first, let's get reopened. Yeah there is going to be more demand compared to late 2020 and early 2021 going all through 2021 but look one of the main problems we are going to have is decreased demand in the tourism sector. There is no doubt about that. I don't really see, people keep talking about these other countries, and mass influx, from where? 

Quoting further: "Cambodian Premier and strongman Hun Sen has already liberalized Immigration Rules by abolishing compulsory medical insurance, pre-flight medical checks and even on-arrival health tests for fully-vaccinated foreign visitors. But that is only the start." Yeah fair enough on that one. Cambodia has gotten ahead of that. Now it is a different jurisdiction; it is a different place; it is smaller. They have their own way of doing things; they have done things the way that they wanted things done and it is looking the way that they wanted in that particular jurisdiction. So things like compulsory medical insurance they don't feel is necessary there. Now I would argue Thailand should really rethink this over here as well as the Thailand Pass but that being said, it is two different things and Cambodia has what, a third of the population of Thailand. I mean the comparison here may not be completely accurate.

The other thing with Cambodia is in Cambodia, when you are a tourist there, it is usually to three sort of very, it is Sihanoukville, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and people tend to stay in that one little area. I would imagine that has a big impact on policy thinking on both sides of the border with respect to policy makers thinking about all these issues. Moving forward. Quoting further: "More than 100 kms of new roads have been constructed in and around Siem Reap which is the gateway to the UNESCO listed Angkor Archaeological Park an investment of US$ 150 million has seen the thoroughfares equipped with modern street lighting, traffic lights and security cameras. Much of the old town will be totally unfamiliar to the 2022 visitor although the internationally famous Pub Street remains. Hun Sen has described Siem Reap province as the rising star of the Kingdom especially the ancient temples which attracted 2.2 million foreign visitors in 2019." Well okay, 2.2 million foreigners against 39 million in Thailand? Quoting further: "and produced $100 million in ticket sales alone." Look there is no doubt, Cambodia is moving a little faster with respect to their reopening plans from a Tourism Sector standpoint but something to keep in mind is a) Thailand is far bigger; it is demographically different than Cambodia and it is in a different position with respect to its overall Tourism Sector. So, in fact I would almost argue that Cambodia only augments Thailand's tourism sector. People oftentimes will come to Thailand, then go to Cambodia, sometimes come back and then go back home. That has generally been how I have seen travellers operate especially regionally in the past.

Now that being said it is a perfectly good thing. Should Thailand be aware of this? Yes I have talked about it a lot. Thailand needs to be aware of the other jurisdictions around her because I really hope we don't fall behind. We need to get our tourism sector back on its feet and opening things up and being sort of less obtuse, less Byzantine with respect to Immigration processing would be a good thing for the Tourism Sector here in Thailand.