As the Khmer New Year holiday approaches this weekend, officials and key insiders have placed high hopes that people travelling during the holiday will contribute to developing the tourism sector in the top destinations nationwide.
Main tourism destinations from the cultural landscape in Siem Reap province to coastal provinces sit in the country’s southwestern part, and highland area to the eco-tourism destinations are likely to receive an influx of domestic tourism movement in the Khmer New Year holiday, said Chhay Sivlin, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents.
Heatwave weather in April would push more visitors to visit the coastal provinces during the upcoming holiday because people prefer tourist sites which surround or nearby water sources, Sivlin told Khmer Times.
“In the long holiday like Khmer New Year, people intend to travel a lot to tourism destinations because of infrastructure connections, their earning better, and attractive tourism sites,” she said.
“People travel during the holiday will contribute to the tourism sector domestically, contributing to community-based businesses because when people travel, they need services such as transportation, accommodation, food and other services,” she said.
The traditional Khmer New Year holiday this year will fall on April 13-16.
To welcome Khmer New Year, known locally as Bon Chul Chnam Thmey, Phnom Penh, provinces, and cities have been decorated with national flags, flowers, and posters, star-shaped lights, giving roads and every corner of cities a touch of colour and bringing joy to local people.
During those days, businesses and government offices closed allowing government officials, people, students, private companies’ staff and garment workers to celebrate the traditional festival and joy on their holiday.
Sankranta, which was last year held in Siem Reap province, will be held in the provinces and cities nationwide to allow people to enjoy the joyous movements during the Khmer New Year.
Kampot province, one of the coastal provinces, is ready to see an increase in the influx of tourists in the upcoming holiday.
“With new tourism products created, many attractive tourism resorts, and infrastructure connection, enabling people to travel, Kampot province is ready to welcome arrivals of both national tourists and foreign tourists,” Soy Sinol, director of the Tourism Department in Kampot province said on Thursday.
Regarding welcoming foreign tourists during the Khmer New Year, Prime Minister Hun Manet has asked the Ministry of Tourism to prepare the performance of the Chhay Yam Traditional Dance to greet foreign tourists at the airports upon their arrival during the Khmer New Year celebration.
Cambodia is well known for its world cultural heritage sites, namely the Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap province, the Preah Vihear Temple and Koh Ker Temple in Preah Vihear province, and the Sambor Prei Kuk Archaeological Site in Kampong Thom province. khmertimeskh
