Within just three days of this year's Water Festival, the number of local and international visitors surged to nearly 8 million and 90,000, respectively. Drawn primarily by the iconic boat races and additional activities such as the lantern floating session and moon worship ceremonies, the event proved to be a massive success.
According to a Ministry of Tourism report, local and international tourist numbers increased by 21% and 28%, respectively, compared to last year's festival. Between November 14 and 16, 7.8 million local tourists and 90,000 international visitors attended the festivities.
This year’s festival marked the second full-scale celebration since the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ASEAN Summit. The event showcased three core activities: boat racing, floating lanterns, and moon worship ceremonies, including the traditional consumption of ambok. A total of 346 boats from provinces nationwide participated, with over 20,000 racers competing, alongside a stunning parade of 36 illuminated lanterns.
Top Sopheak, the Ministry of Tourism spokesperson, highlighted that five provinces—Phnom Penh, Siem Reap, Sihanoukville, Pailin, and Kampot—hosted the highest number of tourists. Phnom Penh alone welcomed over six million local and foreign visitors, the largest turnout among the provinces. The festival's final day saw a peak attendance of 3.5 million.
Sopheak credited the festival’s success to strong leadership under Prime Minister Hun Manet, excellent security measures, and favorable weather conditions. Approximately 16,000 police officers were deployed in Phnom Penh to ensure safety and maintain public order.
“The well-organized event offered a range of attractions beyond the traditional activities, including exhibitions and modern and classical concerts. These, along with the famed boat race, were key to drawing such large crowds," Sopheak remarked.
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