Tourism Minister Huot Hak and Takeo Governor Vei Samnang chair the preparatory meeting. Photo_ Takeo Administrtation
PHNOM PENH – The 9th River Festival is set to take place in Takeo province from March 21 to 23, offering a fusion of culture and sports to attract national and foreign visitors.
Since its inception in 2015, the annual festival has been held in various provinces to promote tourism along rivers and improve the livelihoods of local communities.
Held under the theme of “The Value of River: Bridging Culture with Nature Tourism”, this year’s event will take place at a garden along Takeo Lake.
Visitors can enjoy activities ranging from a 75km Phnom Penh-Takeo cycle race, a fun run, Khmer chess ouk chaktrang, volleyball, petanque, canoeing and kayaking, sky lantern displays, Khmer martial arts and paramotor sport.
The Ministry of Tourism issued guidelines on February 28 to strengthen the tourism service quality and the maintenance of clean restrooms for the festival.
The ministry called for closer collaboration between vendors and local authorities to ensure safety and maintain cleanliness.
Tourism Minister Huot Hak encouraged vendors to decorate their stalls with elements reflecting Khmer culture and the province’s unique identity.
Tour operators and vendors must maintain fair pricing and improve the quality of the services. Sufficient parking spaces should be provided to prevent congestion and maintain order on public roads.
The festival took place in Kratie in 2015, Stung Treng in 2016, Kampong Cham and Tboung Khmum in 2017, Kandal in 2018, Kampong Chhnang in 2019, and Battambang in 2020.
The festivals were postponed in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in Kampong Thom province in 2023 and Siem Reap in 2024, attracting more than 500,000 visitors last year.
Beyond the festival, visitors can look forward to other events this month. These include Koh Pen Beach Festival in Kampong Cham from March 7 to 12, the three-day equinox event in Siem Reap from March 20 to 22, and Beach Festival in Koh Kong from March 8 and 9.
source: https://cambodianess.com/article/takeo-province-to-host-9th-river-festival
