Thailand—an incredibly popular country with Brits—has imposed restrictions on citizens and tourists heading into Cambodia via land, sparking panic among visitors trying to explore Southeast Asia. This is the latest move—following the banning of imports and Thai dramas and films—as the two countries remain locked in a bitter border dispute.
Relations between the nations are at their worst in more than a decade, after armed clashes along the border last month left one Cambodian soldier dead. The military said in a statement on Monday that the new restrictions “matched the current security situation”. The measures apply to vehicles or people trying to cross into Cambodia through checkpoints from several Thai provinces.
Foreign tourists are also banned from leaving Thailand for gambling in border towns, while those travelling by air to Siem Reap in Cambodia for gambling will also face restrictions.
Exceptions to the new travel ban may be granted on humanitarian grounds, such as for students or medical patients, at the discretion of officials at the checkpoints, Thai authorities have said.
According to the military, the restrictions are also set to help counter illegal scam operations in Cambodia. On Monday (June 23), Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra vowed to crack down on these scam operations, with measures including suspending internet services used by Cambodian security agencies. This follows previous measures implemented on neighbouring Myanmar, which is also home to thriving scam networks that have entrapped thousands of foreigners.
Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia date back over a century, when the borders were drawn after the French occupation of Cambodia.
However, the dispute reached new heights when a phone call between PM Paetongtarn and Cambodia’s strongman ex-leader, Hun Sen, was leaked, plunging her government into a political crisis with calls for her to quit.
In the call, Paetongtarn was heard calling him “uncle” – a show of respect – and telling him to ignore a Thai military commander who “just wanted to look cool”. Paetongtarn defended her demeanour as a “negotiation technique”, but critics said she undermined Thailand’s politically influential army. A key coalition partner of her Pheu Thai party has since left the alliance.
It comes as it emerged Thailand is reeling from a huge drop in Chinese tourists, with industry leaders desperate to reverse the worrying trend. Rrecent events have dented confidence in Thailand and raised serious questions about safety in the country.