A new cross-border payment service and the “Cambodia-China Tourism Debit Card” were officially launched on March 18, as part of efforts to enhance convenience for travellers and accelerate the current Cambodia-China Tourism Year campaign.
The initiative, introduced by the Bank of China Phnom Penh Branch, aims to provide a modern and innovative tourism product that enables Cambodian, Chinese and international visitors to make seamless payments while traveling in Cambodia.
The launch ceremony, held at the Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh, was presided over by Minister of Tourism Huot Hak, alongside Zhong Jie, economic and commercial counsellor at the Chinese embassy in Cambodia, Sun Yu, CEO of the Bank of China Hong Kong, and Ouk Sarat, representative of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC).
The new system is designed to not only promote cashless payments but also modernise Cambodia’s tourism services through digital solutions. It is expected to improve service quality, diversify tourism offerings and meet the needs of Chinese and international visitors, while also encouraging greater tourist arrivals and expanding investment opportunities.
Hak praised the initiative, noting that the tourism debit card will make it easier for travellers — especially from China — to conduct cross-border payments using QR code systems.
“This service represents another new achievement and a source of pride for both the Cambodian and Chinese governments in advancing digital transformation in tourism, finance and cross-border payment systems under the ‘Diamond Cooperation’ framework, based on win-win principles and mutual respect,” he said.
“Its shared goal is to build a high-quality, high-level and high-standard ‘Cambodia-China Community with a Shared Future’ in the new era, while serving as a new mechanism to boost the Cambodia-China Tourism Year campaign,” he added.
The minister expressed his appreciation for the continued cooperation of the Chinese Embassy in Cambodia and the Bank of China Phnom Penh Branch, highlighting their important role in supporting Cambodia’s tourism development and increasing the number of Chinese and international visitors in 2026.
He reassured participants and international tourists that safety and security remain a top priority for Cambodia.
“Ensuring the safety and security of international tourists and foreign investors who are staying, visiting and traveling in Cambodia is a top priority of the Royal Government of Cambodia under the correct and wise leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet, successor to former Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, who is now president of the Senate,” he said.
