PHNOM PENH: New Year’s Celebrations in Cambodia were in full-swing this year, after the country finally reopened and lifted all restrictions in November of 2021. This was a stark difference to the New Year’s celebrations in 2020, which were much more muted and held under the looming risk of Covid-19. As a result of the successful vaccination campaign rolled-out across the nation, Cambodians and foreigners alike were able to travel across the country and ring in the new year with far more confidence of their safety.
According to the Minister of Tourism, Thong Khon, over 1.1 million people in Cambodia travelled across the country to celebrate the new year. The most popular destinations by far were Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, which received over 360,000 and close to 190,000 visitors respectively. Other popular tourist destinations include Kampot, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Kep and Preah Sihanouk provinces, which all received between 50,000 to 100,000 visitors each.
Minister Thong Khon has stated that this is a 63.65% increase in New Year’s travelers compared to the New Year’s celebrations of 2020. He added that since the closing of the 20 February Community Transmission Event on 20 December, several capital and provincial administrations, including municipalities and districts, across Cambodia organized New Year’s celebrations, concerts, outdoor decorations and lighting to attract tourists.
In Phnom Penh, the Minister stated that areas such as the riverside, the area in front of the Royal Palace, Koh Pich, Chroy Changvar recreation area, the Win-Win memorial and the Morodok Techo National Stadium were among those destinations which attracted the most tourists.
He continued that all tourist destinations and businesses made efforts to implement tourism safety rules and minimum standard operating procedures (SOPs) under the education and guidance of the Capital-Provincial Administration and the 25 Capital-Provincial Tourism Departments. The management of security, order and traffic were also reported to be good across New Year’s Eve celebrations, with no significant problems or disturbances reported by Capital-Provincial Unity Command Organized Forces stationed at key locations across the country.
While speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony of the expansion of National Road No. 48 in Koh Kong province on Monday morning, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that this New Year holiday is a significant event that acts as a test for the government on the reopening of the country. He also stated that the number of Covid-19 cases across the country are decreasing while people in the Kingdom continue to receive their third dose booster shots.
