AKP Phnom Penh, November 07, 2025 -- Preah Sihanouk province welcomed more than 321,000 visitors during the annual three-day Water Festival Celebration, according to official data released Friday, signaling continued growth in the coastal region's key tourism sector.

The provincial Department of Tourism recorded a total of 321,076 tourists from Nov. 4-6, 2025, a 3.08 percent increase from the same period last year. 

The festival featured traditional boat races, lantern floating ceremonies, and the moon worship (Ork Ambok) celebration.

Domestic tourists accounted for the vast majority of visitors, numbering 312,478—a 2.99 percent year-on-year rise. International arrivals showed stronger growth, climbing 6.27 percent to 8,598 visitors.

The province's beaches and major resort areas remained the primary draw, attracting 315,997 visitors, a 3.10 percent increase. In a sign of the region's growing connectivity, passenger arrivals at Preah Sihanouk International Airport surged 76.99 percent, with 1,308 passengers arriving on 14 incoming flights.

In contrast, tourist numbers to the province's islands saw a decline. Visits fell 11.29 percent to 3,771, with foreign visitor numbers to the islands dropping 22.16 percent.

Article in Khmer by Ngou Somony
Article in English by K. Rithy Reak