China News Service, Siem Reap, March 16 (Yang Qiang Li Haiyue) On March 16, local time, the opening ceremony of Cambodia’s 8th River Water Festival was held in Siem Reap Province, where the world cultural heritage site of Angkor Wat is located.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manai, who attended the event that day, said that more Chinese tourists are welcome to visit Cambodia.
Cambodia has organized river festival celebrations to attract international tourists to promote tourism in the country's riverine provinces.
The first River Water Festival was held in Kratie Province in 2015 and was temporarily suspended during the COVID-19 epidemic.
The most recent event was held in Kampong Thom Province in 2023.
The theme of the 8th River Water Festival held here from March 15 to 17 is "River of Peace and Development".
This year's River Festival launches a series of leisure and entertainment activities including international art performances, large-scale fireworks shows, special tourism product exhibitions, and the Mekong River Food Festival.
Officials expect 1 million domestic and foreign tourists to participate in this river festival.
Wang Wentian, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, was invited to attend the opening ceremony of the River Water Festival held on the 16th.
This event has a Chinese exhibition hall, focusing on the theme of "China-Cambodia Year of People-to-People Exchange".
When visiting the China Exhibition Hall, Hong Manai said that Chinese tourists are welcome to visit Cambodia.
Tourism is one of the four pillar industries supporting Cambodia's economic development.
Statistics show that Cambodia will receive more than 5.4 million international tourists in 2023, an increase of more than 139% compared with 2022.
Scholars from the Royal Academy of Cambodia said in a recent interview with the media that Chinese tourists are one of the main driving forces for Cambodia’s economic growth.
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