Cambodia, Thailand sign single tourist visa deal

Monkeys play on a tree in front of the Angkor temple complex at sunrise in Siem Reap province, Cambodia, December 2, 2007. Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Monday to allow foreign tourists to enter on a single visa.

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Thailand and Cambodia agreed on Monday to allow foreign tourists to enter on a single visa.

"This means a tourist can get a visa either for Thailand or Cambodia and can visit the two nations," Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong said after signing the agreement with visiting Thai counterpart Nitya Pibulsonggram.

The deal was the first of a hoped for series also involving Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, he said.

"We want to see the five countries become one tourist destination," Hor Namhong said.

Thailand is aiming to have 15 million foreign tourists this year while Cambodia had 1.7 million last year, most of whom visited the ancient Angkor temples.

Earlier this month, Air Finland began the first commercial direct flight between Europe and Cambodia, where the tourism industry is growing 25 percent per year.

(Reporting by Ek Madra; Editing by Michael Battye)