PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s Tourism Minister and the Governor of Preah Sihanouk province on Monday welcomed the cruise ship Diamond Princess as it docked at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, bringing nearly 3,000 foreign tourists to the country, officials said.
Tourism Minister H.E. Huot Hak and Preah Sihanouk Governor H.E. Mang Sineth attended the reception ceremony as the Bermuda-registered vessel arrived at the deep-sea port early on Monday after sailing from Vietnam.
Immigration officials at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port said the Diamond Princess docked at around 7 a.m. local time carrying 2,850 passengers from 52 nationalities, including 1,566 women, along with 1,059 crew members from 59 nationalities. The ship measures 288.33 metres in length, 37.5 metres in width and has a draught of 8.5 metres.
The largest groups of passengers were from Australia, with 824 tourists, and the United States, with 797, officials said. The vessel is scheduled to depart Cambodian waters later on Monday afternoon for Thailand.
Speaking at the port, H.E. Huot Hak said the ship’s arrival coincided with Cambodia’s preparations to mark the 27th Anniversary of the country’s Peace Day, underscoring what he described as Cambodia’s political stability and safety for visitors and investors.
“The arrival of the Diamond Princess today is not a coincidence,” he said. “It reflects confidence in Cambodia’s peace, political stability and development, as well as the country’s growing tourism potential.”
H.E. Huot Hak added that the visit by tourists from more than 50 countries would contribute to the national economy, the local economy of Preah Sihanouk province and household incomes.
Governor Mang Sineth said Preah Sihanouk province was emerging as a key economic hub, with strengths in tourism, industry, trade and transport, supported by ongoing expansion of the Sihanoukville deep-sea port.
The Royal Government of Cambodia is implementing a three-phase development plan for the port between 2024 and 2030, aiming to increase its depth to 17.5 metres to accommodate larger international vessels, he said.
“The arrival of international cruise ships demonstrates that Preah Sihanouk province and Cambodia as a whole remain peaceful, politically stable and open for tourism and investment,” H.E. Mang Sineth said.