The Sea Festival in Cambodia
Cambodia a member of the Beautiful Bays Club
Sreysour Manny, ELTO Intake 35, from the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training in Cambodia explains Cambodia’s newest festival, created by the Government to celebrate the sea.
The tourism industry is one of the main four pillars supporting the Cambodia economy. Lately, Cambodia has become one of the most sought-after tourist destinations. In 2010, the sector received 2.5 million foreign tourists generating a total revenue of 1.75 billion US dollars. Hence, to make a sustainable economy grow, there is a need for creative new ideas. Cambodian beaches are some of the most beautiful bays in the world so the government has created a new event called “Sea Festival”.
The year 2011 was the first year to celebrate the Sea Festival. It was first done at Sihanoukville. Preah Sihanoukville is situated 230 kilometres south west of Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. Cambodia’s coastline is stretching the length of 440 kilometres in four provinces namely Koh Kong, Sihanoukville, Kampot and Kep. Sihanoukville is the country’s second most popular destination for tourists after Siem Reap, Angkor Wat temple. Another name for Sihanoukville is Kompongsom province.
In July 2011, Cambodian beaches were admitted as a member of the world’s Most Beautiful Beach Club. To be recognized as a member of the club, the beaches had to go through a vote which was organized in France. The club was established in March 1997, in Berlin, Germany. Including Cambodia, the club has 27 countries as member with 33 bays to be recognized as the most beautiful bays in the world. Cambodina beaches were the 33rd member of the club.
The festival is celebrated yearly at the end of December in all the four coastline provinces in Cambodia. As the bays lie in four provinces, the government has decided to organize the Sea Festival yearly in an interval rotation, i.e. each province will take a turn to hold it. The first celebration was in Sihanoukville, Oucheuteal beach.
The event is jointly organized by the Ministry of Tourism in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), the authorities of Sihanoukville and tourism-related business operators.
The festival organizes some sport events for tourists. The sport events included swimming, motor-boat race, beach volleyball, a half-marathon and Cambodian traditional martial arts. The event takes place from dawn to dust and continues until the New Year countdown at midnight.
With the club’s recognition, we have optimism that our clean and beautiful beaches will attract more tourists and it will also encourage more both local and international investors.
