Takeo: The 9th River Festival is being held in Takeo province with arts performances, sports activities, lantern, and fireworks, attracting many local and foreign visitors.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, this year, the festival is taking place from Mar. 21 to 23 under the theme “The Value of River: Linking Culture and Natural Tourism,” aimed at promoting tourism along the riparian provinces. Tourism Minister H.E. Huot Hak stated that local people and both national and foreign tourists would enjoy live performances of artistic spectacles and concerts, tourism and trade exhibitions, sports, martial arts, floating and sky lanterns, and a firework display, among others.
“The festival is designed to promote the value of local products, tourism-related services, and potential tourism destinations in riverine provinces in Cambodia,” he said. Takeo Provincial Governor H.E. Vei Samnang expressed high hopes for the festival, emphasizing that it would attract more festival-goers. “This is the first time that Takeo hosts the River Festival, a pride for the province and its entire population,” he said.
Governor Vei Samnang also highlighted that those who join the festival will see the province’s potential in areas such as tourism, agriculture, agro-industry, and industry, which may attract more investment to the province. Besides the festival, tourists can explore many recreational and entertainment venues, including natural tourism sites in the province.
The Southeast Asian nation received 6.7 million foreign visitors in 2024, a year-on-year increase of nearly 23 percent, according to a Ministry of Tourism’s report. The River Festival has been held eight times, first in 2015 in Kratie province, then in Stung Treng province in 2016, Kampong Cham-Thbong Khmum province in 2017, Kandal province in 2018, Kampong Chhnang province in 2019, and Battambang province in 2020 before being suspended for two years due to the COVID-19 spread. After the pandemic crisis was under control, the Royal Government of Cambodia organized the 7th River Festival in 2023 in Kampong Thom province and the 8th in 2024 in Siem Reap province.