Phnom Penh, April 18, 2024 – Cambodia witnessed a historic surge in tourism during the four-day Khmer Traditional New Year, from April 13 to 16, with nearly 22 million national and international visitors exploring various destinations throughout the country.

According to a report released this afternoon, the majority of these visitors, approximately 21.70 million, were national tourists and local residents, complemented by about 110,000 foreign tourists.

Kampong Cham province emerged as the most popular destination, attracting over 5.3 million tourists. It was closely followed by Prey Veng province, which welcomed nearly 2.3 million visitors, Kampong Speu province with 2.1 million, Battambang province with more than 1.7 million, and Kampot province, which saw 1.4 million tourists.

Top Sopheak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Tourism, noted that the number of tourists during this year’s celebration significantly exceeded expectations and surpassed pre-Covid-19 crisis levels. He credited the Sankranta events and a variety of entertainment programs across the country for this surge, emphasizing that the nation’s complete peace allowed people to travel freely and safely.

The significant influx of domestic tourists during the holiday period provided substantial economic benefits, boosting local businesses and the broader economy.

Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his congratulations on the successful celebration of the Khmer Traditional New Year, highlighting the joy, dignity, and national pride it brought to the country. He remarked on the peace that allows all Cambodians to live together harmoniously.

“This surge in domestic tourism underscores the unity and joy of the Cambodian people, celebrating in the land of Angkor with happiness, honor, and dignity," stated the Prime Minister.

Last year, the Khmer New Year attracted over 13 million visitors during the three-day holiday period from April 14 to 16.