Tourists enjoy water slides and swimming in Kampot province recently. Supplied
Authorities and private stakeholders in Cambodia’s tourism sector anticipate a significant number of both local and international tourists to attend the Sea Festival, set to take place over four days next weekend in Kampot province, under the theme "Celebrating Coastal Heritage and Sustainability".
The government has scheduled the celebration for December 13-15, marking the province's third time hosting the event, following previous occasions in 2015 and 2019.
Since 2011, with exceptions during the Covid-19 pandemic, the festival has been hosted on a rotational basis in the country’s four coastal provinces: Preah Sihanouk, Kep, Koh Kong and Kampot. The aim is to promote tourism in coastal areas and raise awareness about marine resource and coastal environment conservation.
Provincial Department of Tourism director Soy Sinol told The Post on December 3 that preparations for the event, including beautification, security and logistics, are progressing smoothly. He anticipates a large turnout of both local and international visitors.
He added that the province currently offers 332 hotels and guesthouses, with a total of 5,069 rooms, along with approximately 130 food service locations.
Sinol expressed optimism about the event's success, stating, “I am confident that this year’s Sea Festival will attract a large number of both local and international visitors to Kampot province. In addition to its pristine beaches, Kampot is home to numerous attractions such as mountains, waterfalls and agro-industrial zones.”
He noted that accommodation bookings are robust, with more than 30% of rooms already reserved. Local authorities and the tourism department regularly advise businesses to maintain cleanliness, ensure hygiene and avoid unjustified price hikes during the festival.
An employee from Kampot River Bungalow shared that over 10 of their 15 rooms are already booked for the period. Prices range from $38 per night for a single bed to $48 for a double bed, with breakfast included.
Tourists relax near Kampot province’s 8-metre-tall sea horse statue. Supplied
The employee commented, “I believe the Sea Festival will bring many visitors to Kampot. The province boasts beautiful beaches and numerous natural attractions.”
She added that, despite the expected influx of tourists, there would be no shortage of accommodation, thanks to good road infrastructure that facilitates travel to nearby destinations like Kep, Preah Sihanouk and Phnom Penh.
To enhance convenience for visitors, especially for lodging, the tourism ministry, in collaboration with the Kampot provincial administration, issued a multilingual notice on November 28 in Khmer, English and Chinese. The announcement includes details about rooms available during the celebration, accessible via QR code.
The statement said, “The Ministry of Tourism has the honour to inform all national and international tourists that, to facilitate the stay of visitors coming to Kampot province, especially those participating in the 11th Sea Festival … the ministry, in collaboration with the Kampot provincial administration, has enhanced the quality of all types of tourism services. Additionally, a directory of accommodations has been prepared, including business names, addresses, contact numbers and room prices. Please scan the QR code below for detailed information.”
According to a meeting on November 1 between tourism minister Thong Khon and Kampot provincial governor Mao Thonin, the event will feature various activities, including cultural performances, concerts, fireworks, sports competitions, exhibitions of tourism packages and general products and food and beverage stalls.
During this meeting, Khon highlighted that the province is a prime destination for cultural heritage tourism and coastal agritourism. He said the event will help promote the country’s coastal tourism and encourage all relevant stakeholders to focus on preserving and sustainably developing these regions. In particular, he stressed that it aims to elevate the quality of services in the industry.
In 2023, the 10th Sea Festival was held in Kep province under the theme "Together for Tourism".
In addition to the event, the country also organises “river festivals” in provinces along the country’s waterways. These celebrations aim to promote and showcase tourism in these provinces, particularly encouraging residents to actively participate in urban development along the rivers and in community-based tourism initiatives.
