Special seating arrangements for foreigners at Water Fest

Free special seating arrangements and other services will be offered to foreign visitors during the Water Festival celebrations in Phnom Penh from November 26 to 28.

Top Sopheak, the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Tourism, announced yesterday that during the Water Festival celebrations, the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the National Committee for Organising National and International Festivals, will set up preferred seating on the riverbank near the honourary stages in front of the Royal Palace.

Sopheak said that along with the convenient seats, foreigners will be provided free refreshments and headsets for translation of the event announcement and narration into English, French, and Chinese.

“The main purpose of this special seating arrangement and services is to provide conveniences to the foreign tourists who will attend the Water Festival and also to promote tourism in Cambodia,” Sopheak said.

“Our teams have already constructed a pavilion on the river bank close to the honorary stages in front of the Royal Palace and working to put on the finishing touches,” he said.

Sopheak said the Ministry of Tourism and the National Committee for Organising National and International Festivals are also working on the system to enable the use of headsets for translation of the event announcement and narration into English, French, and Chinese.

The Ministry of Tourism on Monday informed tour agencies and other private operators to spread the information about the special services offered to foreign tourists during the Water Festival and include it in their tour packages to promote the participation of foreign visitors.

Cambodia organises the Water Festival annually to mark the end of the monsoon season, convey appreciation to nature, especially water, for the productive harvests, and commemorate the country’s rich culture and history.

The festivities are accompanied by longboat races.