Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen (L, entrance) beats a gong in the course of the opening ceremony of the Sankranta competition in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on April 14, 2023.(Photograph by Ly Lay/Xinhua)
The Sankranta competition will enhance the restoration of the pandemic-devastated tourism trade in Cambodia, Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen says.
SIEM REAP, Cambodia, April 15 (Xinhua) — Tens of hundreds of revelers on Friday congregated on the famed Angkor Archeological Park right here as Cambodia kicked off the three-day Sankranta competition, or Lunar New Yr’s celebration, after a four-year hiatus on account of COVID-19 pandemic.
Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen attributed the resumption of the Sankranta competition to the federal government’s profitable management of the pandemic.
“The Sankranta competition is organized to encourage the Cambodian individuals, particularly the youthful generations, to grasp, love and promote Cambodia’s invaluable tradition, civilization, custom and customized,” he mentioned on the competition’s opening ceremony.
Individuals play conventional tug-of-war recreation on the Sankranta competition in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on April 14, 2023.(Photograph by Ly Lay/Xinhua)
“And it is usually aimed toward sustaining nationwide id and upholding nationwide satisfaction,” he added.
Quite a lot of occasions, together with a cultural present, conventional video games, dancing, singing, martial arts, commerce exhibition, meals present, and trendy live performance, are being held on the competition from Friday to Sunday.
Hun Sen was assured that the Sankranta competition would enhance the restoration of the pandemic-devastated tourism trade.
“It’s anticipated that we will entice greater than 4 million worldwide vacationers this 12 months,” he mentioned, noting that the Southeast Asian nation acquired 2.28 million international guests in 2022.
Cambodia acquired 6.6 million worldwide guests in 2019, and the quantity sharply dropped to 1.3 million in 2020 and 200,000 in 2021, based on the Ministry of Tourism.
A big Chapei Dang Veng, the long-necked, two-stringed lute, is displayed on the Sankranta competition in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on April 14, 2023.(Photograph by Ly Lay/Xinhua)
Siem Reap Provincial Governor Tea Seiha mentioned the return of the Angkor Sankranta competition would positively inject contemporary impetus into tourism improvement within the post-pandemic period.
“This Angkor Sankranta competition is predicted to draw extra nationwide and worldwide guests to Siem Reap province,” he mentioned.
Seiha additionally touted Cambodia’s hard-earned peace and political stability, saying that they had been the important thing elements permitting the dominion to arrange such a big Sankranta competition.
Hun Many, president of the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia that organized the competition, mentioned the occasion provided a window into Cambodia’s magnificent tradition and custom.
“It’s not solely to rejoice the standard Khmer New Yr, but additionally to indicate our wonderful tradition, civilization, custom, customized, and religions to international mates,” he mentioned.
Individuals play conventional tug-of-war recreation on the Sankranta competition in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on April 14, 2023.(Photograph by Ly Lay/Xinhua)
Sankranta competition reveler Seatt Phobb, 21, mentioned the competition was an incredible alternative to showcase Cambodian tradition and custom and to advertise them to international holidaymakers.
“I feel this New Yr competition will be capable to entice vacationers, particularly international ones, to the Angkor Wat temple, and it’ll promote our Cambodian tradition to the world,” she instructed Xinhua.
One other 21-year-old competition goer Suy Lipin mentioned she was very joyful to see crowds of individuals celebrating the Sankranta competition on the Angkor Archeological Park, a world heritage website.
“That is the primary time I come to play (New Yr) conventional video games right here, and really feel very joyful though the climate is absolutely scorching,” she instructed Xinhua. “I would wish to enchantment to individuals to come back and play conventional video games on the Angkor park in order to advertise our Cambodian civilization to the world.”■
