Cambodia asked visitors to put down a $3,000 deposit in case of coronavirus

As many countries started reopening their borders to tourists this summer, some places, like Sicily, were enticing visitors with discounted flights, while others, like Mexico, were offering free overnight stays. Greece was cutting taxes on transportation to make travel there less expensive.

Cambodia seems to have taken a slightly different approach, as authorities announced that they will be requiring a $3,000 coronavirus deposit of sorts from international travelers, as well as proof of health insurance valued at a minimum of $50,000.

It’s worth noting that nonessential travel is still not recommended in many places, such as in the US, where the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warns against it. If you do choose to travel, it’s best to check the CDC’s travel recommendations for each country.

The $3,000 deposit — which can be paid in cash or by credit card, and is required at Cambodian airports along with the Cambodia visa on arrival — is said to cover any COVID-19-related costs that travelers might accrue in the country.

The Ministry of Health outlined a comprehensive list of possible fees and treatment costs arrivals may face. This is a big pivot from late March when the country’s Prime Minister Hun Sen said that Cambodian hospitals would treat COVID-19-positive visitors for free.

According to the Ministry of Health, the mandatory COVID-19 test alone can cost around $165: $100 for the test, $5 to get to the testing center, and around $60 for three meals and a night in a hotel or designated facility to await the results, which it says take around 24 hours.

The Ministry of Health goes on to suggest a cost of around $1,281 per person for a two-week quarantine; this estimated cost includes staying in a designated hotel or quarantine center, meals, laundry, and medical services, and would be deducted from a traveler’s deposit if someone else on their flight tests positive.

If the traveler tests positive themselves, they would have an estimated $330 per day spent in a hospital deducted from their deposit.

The ministry notes that a funeral, in the event of a coronavirus-related death, would cost an estimated $1,500.

The mandatory proof of health insurance is required in case a traveler racks up costs higher than the $3,000 deposit.

Travelers who test negative would only be charged for the test and reimbursed for the remaining deposit, according to Khmer Times. However, the US Embassy in Cambodia says that all arriving travelers should be prepared for the costs and fees outlined by the Ministry of Health.

Cambodia has seen 288 cases and no reported deaths related to the coronavirus at the time of writing, according to statistics from the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.

Representatives for the US Embassy in Cambodia did not provide any further comment.