PHNOM PENH: Cambodia saw a high record of nearly 22 million trips to different tourist destinations across the country during the four-day holiday of Khmer Traditional New Year, from April 13 to 16.

A report released this afternoon showed that of the total number, 21.70 million were made by national tourists and local people, while the number of foreign tourists was recorded at 110,000.

Kampong Cham province took the lead by receiving more than 5.3 million tourists, followed by Prey Veng province with nearly 2.3 million, Kampong Speu province with 2.1 million, Battambang province with more than 1.7 million, and Kampot province with 1.4 million.

The number of tourists during the four-day celebration is a lot more than expected and even higher than before the Covid-19 crisis, underlined H.E. Top Sopheak, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Tourism.

He attributed the unprecedented number of visitors during the Khmer New Year Festival to Sankranta events and diverse entertainment programmes, organised throughout the country, especially to full peace allowing people to travel around the country without worries.

“This domestic tourist movement during the long holiday has created huge economic benefits to the economy, particularly to local people and businesses,” he said.

Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of Cambodia on Wednesday sent a message to congratulate the successful celebration of the Khmer Traditional New Year which was ended with joy, dignity, safety, and national pride.

“The shade of peace has provided an opportunity for all Cambodians to live together with virtue and unity in a single Cambodian family on the beloved land of Angkor and in happiness, honor and dignity forever,” the Premier said.

Cambodia received over 13 million local and foreign visitors in the three days (April 14-16) of Khmer New Year holiday last year. AKP