PHNOM PENH: The Water Festival holiday has concluded on Saturday with some extended their vacations until Sunday. Up to a million citizens have traveled around the Kingdom during the three-day holiday. Even with celebrations cancelled in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19, tourists flocked hotels and resort. The Ministry of Tourism says it shows how much Cambodia is ready to welcome back international travelers that are fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Just like last year, the well-known celebrations of Water Festival were cancelled as a way to prevent the spread of Covid-19. However, travels between provinces were still allowed, showing a remarkable increase of tourism business during the holidays.
According to the announcement by the Ministry of Tourism, more than 910 thousand citizens traveled through different provinces in the Kingdom during the three-day Water Festival; 900 thousand were national holidaymakers and 10 thousand travelers were domestic foreign visitors.
Last Sunday, was the last day of the extended holiday and the busiest, with 445 thousand travelers enjoying their breaks. That’s up to 33.76% and 237.28% compared to the second and first days, respectively. This year’s top destinations were Phnom Penh, followed by Siem Reap, Preah Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep, Pursat, Battambang, Kampong Speu, Mondulkiri, Kandal and Ratanakiri.
Even with so many people traveling between provinces, the daily infection of Covid-19 remains low. Minister of Tourism Thong Khon has stressed how the tourism management during the Water Festival proves the Kingdom is ready to welcome back tourisms that are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. Tourists were observed to have enjoyed their holidays, but following the health measures set by the Ministry of Health.
Thong Khon has congratulated municipal and provincial administrations, as well as tourism departments for fully promoting the use of the Standard Operating Procedures to prevent Covid-19. The Minister has also stressed the positive effect of the holiday as it slowly bounces back of the economy coming from tourists spending their moneys during their trips. The travelers have opted to use more hotels, guesthouses and restaurants services. According to the tourism ministry, the Water Festival proves that Cambodia is fully ready to receive even more travelers coming from abroad.
