Preah Sihanouk Governor Mang Sineth outlined developments in education, culture, tourism and religion during a February 25 working meeting between the provincial administration and a delegation from the Senate’s Seventh Commission, led by its chairman Chhit Sokhon.
Education: Mang Sineth said 2,211 candidates, including 1,146 women, sat the upper-secondary examination in 2025. Of these, 2,004 passed, a 90.64% pass rate. There were 56 grade-A results, including 26 women, an increase of 11. Grades B and C also increased while D and E decreased, which he described as an improving educational trend.
Two provincial schools received model public-service awards in education for 2024: Sihanoukville’s resource kindergarten ranked first and Hun Sen Veal Renh High School fifth.
Religious affairs: The governor reported 38 pagodas: 36 Maha Nikaya and two Dhammayuttika. There were 915 monks, including 650 novices; the report also listed 143 male and female lay ritual officiants. It listed three meditation sites, one provincial Vipassana centre, 11 Dhamma-Vinaya schools, 10 Buddhist primary schools, one Buddhist lower-secondary school and 13 libraries, alongside seven Mahayana institutions, two Christian churches and 17 mosques. The administration promoted cultural and religious understanding during traditional festivals for foreign visitors. The governor was developing pagodas as cultural tourism sites, and authorities directed cruise visitors to visit them.
Culture and fine arts: Mang Sineth said the administration promoted National Culture Day on March 3, traditional games at Khmer New Year and other cultural activities. It also encouraged pupils to learn dances at school, particularly Preah Thong Neang Neak. He wanted people to associate that dance with Preah Sihanouk, as Apsara dance evokes Siem Reap.
Tourism: The governor highlighted white beaches, blue seas, Ream Marine National Park, Koh Rong Marine Park, Koh Rong Sanloem, seagrass, coral, creeks, mangroves, lowlands, highlands, slopes, waterfalls, natural forest and biodiversity as attractions. The province had 560 tourism businesses employing 10,282 people. In 2025 it received over 4.7 million visitors, up 2.49% from 2024: over 4.3 million domestic visitors, up 0.44%, and over 410,000 international visitors, up 30.45%. Tourist arrivals by air involved 1,021 flights, up 32.08%, and 78,306 visitors, up 83.87%, including 597 domestic and 77,709 international visitors. These are the provincial statistics presented in the report.
The commission chairman praised the provincial leadership and specialist departments for jointly developing the coastal province. He said their efforts increased its potential and could improve residents’ lives. He urged them to preserve peace, social stability, public order and environmental cleanliness, and to provide attractive public services.
Article: Nget Pisant
Photo: Keo Dara
