The Kampot Sea Festival!

The 8th edition of the Sea Festival in Cambodia will take place in Kampot from December 20th to 22nd. Following the success of the Koh Kong province festival last year, which attracted 200,000 local and international tourists, the Ministry of Tourism hopes to exceed half a million visitors this year by introducing new local activities, entertainment, and gastronomic experiences.

Held annually since 2011, rotating between Cambodia's coastal provinces—Koh Kong, Preah Sihanouk, Kep, and Kampot—the Sea Festival aims to promote local know-how and products. The goal is to attract not only travelers but also investors looking to contribute to the development of these coastal regions.

Pepper, Durian, and Culinary Street

Local businesses and artisans will be in full force throughout the weekend from Friday, December 20th to Sunday, December 22nd, promoting their products. Kampot province is renowned for its famous pepper, as well as its salt and durian. This is a golden opportunity for these producers to showcase their specialties.

The government is also investing in a new concept for the kingdom: the "Food Street." Inspired by the famous "street food" vendors, this initiative by the Ministry of Tourism is on a much larger scale, aiming to create a whole plaza dedicated to Khmer cuisine. The Ministry intends to delight the 500,000 visitors expected by offering countless local dishes that are not only delicious but hygienic as well. "We are preparing the Food Street for the Kampot Sea Festival. It must be magnificent to satisfy the hundreds of thousands of travelers who will be present," stated Minister of Tourism Thong Khon on the Ministry’s Facebook page.

This initiative is expected to further boost tourism in the Kampot region, which has already seen a 4.5% increase in visitors from January to June compared to last year, bringing the total to 470,000. The city is considered a potential model for the country’s tourism sector, and with its historical passion for gastronomic flavors, Kampot is well-positioned to offer visitors delicious and memorable dishes.