PHNOM PENH, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's three-day traditional Pchum Ben festival concluded with 2.16 million people traveling to various tourist destinations across the Southeast Asian country, Minister of Tourism Huot Hak said on Tuesday.
This marks a 0.8-percent increase compared to last year's festival, he shared the figures on his official Telegram channel, adding that of the total travelers, 24,343 were foreign visitors.
Hak added that the holiday's most-visited destinations were the cultural hub of Siem Reap, the coastal provinces of Kampot and Preah Sihanouk, as well as Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Cham provinces.
Celebrated from Oct. 10 to 12, the Pchum Ben festival, also known as Ancestor's Day, stands as Cambodia's second-largest annual celebration, surpassed only by the Khmer New Year in April.
The holiday holds deep spiritual significance. On the occasion, Buddhist devotees visited pagodas nationwide to make offerings to monks, dedicating the merits to their deceased relatives and loved ones. ■