Cambodian Ministry of Tourism: 95,000 international tourists participated in the "Water Festiva
The Ministry of Tourism of Cambodia stated on the 25th that the three-day folk traditional "Water Festival" carnival attracted domestic and foreign tourists. The main venue, Phnom Penh, received 4.5 million domestic and foreign tourists, a year-on-year increase of nearly 50%, of which about 9.5 international tourists. Million.
Minister of Tourism Tang Kun stated that during the Dragon Boat Races, Rice Eating, Light Boat Cruise, and Moon Worship held during the "Water Festival", Cambodian provinces received 925,000 domestic and foreign tourists, an increase of 15.6% year-on-year.
After the annual "Water Festival", which marks the arrival of the Cambodian dry season, the water of Tonle Sap begins to flow back into the Mekong River, and finally into the sea, the Tonle Sap lake enters the fishing season, and the harvest of rice begins.
According to the report of the Cambodian National and International Celebration Committee, during the three days of the "Water Festival", Phnom Penh received 4.5 million domestic and foreign tourists, of which 12,000 people watched the dragon boat race and the light boat at the audience stand in front of the Royal Palace. The number of foreign tourists reached 5.43 million.
On the night of the full moon on the 22nd of the "Water Festival", King Norodom Sihamoni attended the traditional royal candle dropping ceremony for divination of the 2019 rainfall, and divination of the rainfall in 25 provinces (cities) across the country next year. The palace fortune-teller prepared candles symbolizing 25 provinces (cities), lit them and placed them on the dragon statue. From the dragon head to the dragon tail, the candle was dripped onto the banana leaves, saying that they could predict which province and city would have a good weather in the coming year. The ceremony is held once a year to encourage farmers to prepare for the next farming season.
According to the results of the divination published by the Cambodian News Agency, the rainfall in the 25 provinces (cities) of the country next year will be less rain at the beginning of the year, moderate rainfall in the middle of the year, and more rainfall at the end of the year. Among them, the provinces of Battambang, Stung Treng, Mondulkiri, Sihanoukville, and Otto Meanchey have more rainfall, while Svay Rieng province has the least rainfall.