Tang Sochet Krisna, director of Sihanoukville province's tourism department, said the province received 195,263 visitors on the night of December 31, 2025, including 189,334 domestic visitors and 5,929 foreign visitors. This represented a 34.35% increase over the previous year.
He said many tourists visited Sihanoukville for the transition from 2025 to 2026, but gatherings were generally quiet leisure outings and family reunions, without the loud sound systems or celebratory fireworks seen in previous years. People remained concerned about those displaced by the fighting and troops stationed on the frontline.
He added that, although the provincial administration had not organized special entertainment events, tourists and residents could still gather and relax at beaches and resorts on the mainland and islands, enjoying the province's scenery and development achievements.
Residents and visitors likewise described an ordinary atmosphere on New Year's Eve in Sihanoukville. Despite the absence of organized entertainment to celebrate the New Year, people took part in simple leisure gatherings, without the singing, dancing or fireworks of previous years. They remained worried about displaced people and frontline troops, and wished for peace between Cambodia and Thailand.
Visitors said this year's New Year trip was intended to relieve stress over the border situation, particularly after seeing the hardships faced by frontline troops and displaced people. However, Thailand's release and return of all 18 Cambodian soldiers had brought them some relief, along with hope that Cambodia and Thailand would cooperate to rebuild stronger bilateral friendship and secure lasting peace for Cambodia.
By: Pai Sokhim
