The government has announced the return of the highly celebrated River Festival, which will be held in March this year in Kampong Thom and will be presided over by Prime Minister Hun Sen, after a two-year hiatus due to the Covid-19  pandemic.

The Ministry of Tourism and Kampong Thom Provincial Administration had a meeting on Friday to gear up for the 7th River Festival, which before the lockdown was attended by thousands of people each year.

It was first held in Kratie province in 2015, followed by Kampong Cham (including Tboung Khmum), Stung Treng, Kandal and Kampong Chhnang.

According to the Tourism Ministry, the 7th River Festival will include exhibitions of local agricultural products, Khmer products, food and beverage and other attractions, as well as cultural spectacles, such as sports competitions (boxing, bowling and races), along with a tree-planting ceremony.

The festival will also have concerts, cultural performances, and many other social activities to attract people to visit.

 
During the Friday meeting, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said the return of the River Festival will draw a lot of  tourists to Kampong Thom and boost the province’s economy.

Khon instructed the Provincial Administration to create committees and subcommittees for each element of the festival including performing arts, sports competitions, decorations, exhibitions, food stalls and others to ensure that the celebration go smoothly.

“For the exhibition, I would like to see local products on display to promote the local crafts and boost the market for them,” he said.

“The administration must also show off their cultural potential and historical sites to visitors to show that Cambodia is a civilisation with one of the oldest history.”

Kampong Thom governor Nguon Ratanak said he is committed to making the 7th River Festival a success, adding that he already has the experience of hosting the same festival in Battambang when he was the province’s governor.

“I expect this year’s River Festival to receive more visitors than ever after the hiatus,” he said. “Plus, Kampong Thom is a province with so many tourist destinations including Sambo Prei Kuk.”