The three-day Water Festival ended on Saturday with a record-breaking turnout of over 7.75 million tourists visiting various festival venues nationwide, of which some 6.23 million tourists gathered in the capital Phnom Penh alone, a report from the Ministry of Tourism showed yesterday.
The number of tourists rose by 21 percent compared to 6.38 million, recorded last year, said the report.
Phnom Penh, where the main Water Festival was celebrated, recorded a surge of 22 percent in tourist numbers, compared to last year.
The report noted that the festival also brought in some 89,000 foreign tourists.
The three-day event, held from November 14 to 16, featured a diverse range of activities, including thrilling boat races, illuminated boat parades, cultural performances and traditional markets.
The Water Festival is a key event in attracting visitors and promoting Cambodia as a destination for cultural experiences.
The influx of tourists has had a significant positive impact on the local economy, boosting businesses in the hospitality, retail, and transportation sectors, Minister of Tourism Huot Hak said.
“The event has not only showcased Cambodia’s rich cultural heritage but also contributed significantly to the country’s economy, boosting various sectors such as tourism, hospitality, and retail,” Hak said in an interview with the national television.
The ministry has been actively promoting the Water Festival as a major tourist attraction, highlighting the colourful boat races, illuminated floats, and traditional performances.
Cambodia’s peace, prosperity, development, and friendly people will get promoted widely through the foreigners who joined the festivities, the minister added.
Reports from the Provincial Tourism Departments also showed a remarkable surge in tourists at various provinces during the festival.
Siem Reap province, the country’s cultural tourism hub, attracted 335,000 tourists followed by the coastal province of Preah Sihanouk with 303,000 tourists.
The Water Festival’s success is attributed to the government’s efforts to promote the event as a major tourist attraction and to improve infrastructure and security measures in Phnom Penh to accommodate the large number of visitors.
Prime Minister Hun Manet lauded the success of the Water Festival, noting that the success of the celebration was the result of the close cooperation of all relevant ministries and institutions.
“The festival was celebrated smoothly, successfully and happily by promoting and preserving rich national traditions and culture, creating smiles in Cambodian families as well as for tourists,” the Prime Minister wrote in a social network post on Sunday.
