Cambodia received more than two million national and international tourists during the New Year Celebrations on December 31, 2022, and January 1, 2023, a Ministry of Tourism report said yesterday.

The ministry said the number of tourists surged a whopping 76.65 percent when compared with the same period in 2021.

While 2,006,117 were domestic tourists, a total of 16,803 foreign tourists visited several places in the country last weekend.

While 455,832 visitors chose Phnom Penh as their venue to celebrate New Year, Preah Sihanouk Province became the second top attractive place in the country with a total of 338,552 visitors last weekend.

The Cambodian capital attracted 452,363 national tourists and 3,469 foreigners.

Siem Reap Province, which is home to UNESCO World Heritage Centre Angkor Archaeological Park, remains the top attraction for foreigners, as 7,769 international travellers opted for the historical place as their destination for the New Year celebrations. With 330,000 national tourists, the province attracted a total of 337,769 people this weekend, the ministry said.

While the Kampot Province received 330,659 tourists, including 447 foreigners, the Battambang Province attracted 158,110 people.

A total of 88,356 people visited the Kep province, followed by Tbong Khmum province (84,683 people) and Kampong Cham province (76,901).

Some of the top attractions for tourists during the New Year celebrations were Koh Pich, the riverside, Royal Palace area, Chroy Changva entertainment area, Victory Monument, and the Metro Techo Stadium, the ministry report pointed out.

It said all tourist destinations across the country attracted a large number of tourists with hotel rooms, guesthouses, resorts and bungalows receiving almost 100 percent bookings.

However, some people choose to conduct a New Year meeting at home with their family and friends, the ministry statement said, adding that others went out for the New Year Eve gatherings at restaurants, adult entertainment venues and the Sky Bar.

The capital, provincial and municipal administrations organized New Year celebrations, concerts, city decorations, lighting, countdowns, fireworks, and lantern shows to attract tourists.

With tourism being a significant component in boosting the economic growth aspirations of the country, the sector is predicted to do well this year.

Several international agencies predicted an improvement in Cambodia’s GDP growth this year on the back of an impressive performance from the tourism industry.

According to the latest International Monetary Fund report, tourism recovered in the country last year. The IMF report predicted that the country’s real GDP growth was forecast to be 5 percent in 2022, after the strong export performance earlier in the year, and nearly 5½ percent in 2023, supported by the continued recovery of tourism.

The World Bank also observed that the services sector, especially travel and tourism, has done well since the introduction of the ‘Living with Covid-19’ strategy in late 2021. It said the total international visitor arrivals have steadily increased, reaching 1.2 million in the first nine months of 2022.

As per estimates, the Kingdom was estimated to have received up to two million international tourists in 2022. The number of domestic tourists was projected to be around 12.5-13 million last year.