Over 1.11 million domestic and foreign tourists travelled in Cambodia during the three-day Pchum Ben Festival, held during 16-18 September, after the COVID-19 situation was brought under control, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Tourism.
Pchum Ben, also known as ‘Ancestor’s Day’, is a 15-day religious festival culminating in celebrations on the 15th day of the tenth month in the Khmer calendar, at the end of the Buddhist lent. While it is common for locals to travel to the provinces during the holidays, this year the pandemic has played a significant role in boosting local tourism.
The Capital-Provincial Unity Command assigned regular inspections and dispatched guidance teams during the holidays. The Department of Tourism also visited popular businesses and tourist destinations to oversee the quality and affordability of tourism services.
All destinations continued to implement safety measures including body temperature scanning, handwashing, mask-wearing, and social distancing, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in accordance with the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Tourism.