PHNOM PENH: Over 3.5 million national and international tourists traveled across Cambodia during the Universal New Year celebrations on December 30-31, 2024, marking a significant influx of visitors to the Southeast Asian nation.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, approximately 3.48 million of these travelers were national visitors, while 47,260 were foreign tourists. The reports from municipal and provincial tourism departments highlighted Phnom Penh as the top destination, with the capital city hosting the inaugural “Celebrating Cambodia” event and attracting 1,573,479 visitors. Other popular locations included Preah Sihanouk coastal province with 422,829 visitors, Siem Reap cultural province with 333,660, and Battambang northwestern province with 324,760.

The “Celebrating Cambodia” event, held in front of the Royal Palace on December 31, was designed to honor the nation’s culture and inspire national pride. The celebration included a variety of activities such as parades involving 3,000 participants, folk games, art performances, and concerts. Additionally, there was a food fair, a New Year countdown to 2025, and a fireworks display, all enhanced by giant puppets, lanterns, and balloons, creating a vibrant backdrop for the festivities.