Record Breaking Holiday Travel Across the Kingdom
Cambodia experienced an extraordinary wave of travel during the three day Khmer New Year celebration from April 14 to 16, with more than 21 million visitors recorded nationwide, according to the Ministry of Tourism. Official figures released on Thursday showed a sharp rise in festive movement, reflecting strong domestic enthusiasm and a steady return of international travelers. The total included around 1.14 million domestic overnight tourists, 19.9 million day trippers, and over 71,000 international visitors, highlighting the scale and vibrancy of this year’s celebrations across the country.
Top Destinations Draw Massive Crowds
Several provinces and cities stood out as the most popular destinations, attracting millions of visitors during the holiday period. The capital Phnom Penh led the list, followed closely by other key provinces that hosted large scale festivities and cultural events. For easier reading, here are the top destinations and their visitor numbers:
- Phnom Penh with 4.40 million visitors
- Kampong Cham with 4.17 million visitors
- Prey Veng with 2.32 million visitors
- Siem Reap with 1.79 million visitors
- Kampong Speu with 1.71 million visitors
These destinations became lively hubs of celebration, blending traditional culture with modern entertainment to attract both local residents and visitors from abroad.
Celebrations Bring Communities Together
In Phnom Penh, municipal spokesman Dao Samphors highlighted the scale of activities, noting that people gathered at six major event sites as well as the former Phnom Penh International Airport to take part in traditional Khmer games. Festivities extended across all 14 districts, with Sankranta events hosted at local pagodas to ensure that celebrations were accessible to communities throughout the capital. These events created a festive atmosphere that brought people of all ages together to celebrate Cambodian culture and heritage.
Safe and Well Organised Festivities
Samphors described the “Nokor Sangkranta” celebrations as joyful and well organised, with authorities maintaining strong public order and security throughout the holiday. The smooth coordination between local administrations and national authorities ensured that millions of people could celebrate safely, with no major incidents reported. This level of organisation played a key role in managing the large crowds while preserving a peaceful and enjoyable environment for everyone involved.
Tourism Recovery Gains Strong Momentum
The surge in travel during Khmer New Year signals a strong recovery for Cambodia’s tourism sector. The combination of high profile urban events and traditional rural gatherings helped drive visitor numbers to record levels. Authorities credited the success to careful planning and close cooperation between institutions, which enabled them to handle the significant influx of holidaymakers efficiently. This momentum reflects renewed confidence in Cambodia as a vibrant and safe destination for both domestic and international tourism.
Conclusion
Cambodia’s impressive tourism figures during the 2026 Khmer New Year highlight the country’s cultural appeal and growing travel confidence. With millions of people participating in celebrations across the nation, the holiday not only strengthened community bonds but also reinforced the recovery of the tourism sector. As the country continues to build on this momentum, Cambodia is well positioned to attract even greater numbers of visitors in the years ahead.