Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism has called on tourism operators across the country to strengthen service quality, safety, cleanliness and hospitality ahead of the Kan Ben and Pchum Ben festival, which will take place from September 27 to October 11, 2026. The ministry issued a new guideline urging tourism businesses to work closely with authorities and prepare their establishments to welcome domestic and international visitors during one of Cambodia’s most important traditional periods.
The guidance covers a wide range of practical issues, from transparent pricing and parking arrangements to hygiene, staff professionalism, fire prevention and culturally appropriate decoration. With families and communities expected to travel and gather during the festival, the ministry is positioning good service and visitor safety as important parts of maintaining Cambodia’s reputation as a welcoming tourism destination.
“The Kan Ben and Pchum Ben period presents an important opportunity for Cambodia’s tourism industry to strengthen the visitor experience while respecting the country’s cultural traditions. The Ministry of Tourism is asking operators to focus on service quality, transparent pricing, cleanliness, safety, hospitality and professional conduct throughout the festival. Businesses are also encouraged to reflect Khmer culture in their decorations and staff presentation while taking additional precautions against fires and maintaining clean, well supplied restrooms. Beyond individual businesses, the ministry wants tourism operators and visitors to contribute to a positive national tourism image through shared promotion. For hotels, restaurants, attractions and other tourism businesses, the message is clear: strong standards during a major holiday can help build visitor confidence, encourage positive experiences and support Cambodia’s wider tourism recovery and growth.”
Pchum Ben Brings a Major Tourism Opportunity
Kan Ben and Pchum Ben are among Cambodia’s most important Buddhist and traditional celebrations. The period gives Cambodians an opportunity to pay respects and dedicate merit to parents, grandparents, teachers, ancestors and deceased relatives, while bringing families and communities together.
The festival also creates increased movement of people across the country as families travel, visit relatives and participate in traditional activities. For tourism operators, this makes the period an important opportunity to serve domestic travellers while continuing to welcome international visitors interested in experiencing Cambodian culture and traditions.
The Ministry of Tourism said its new guidelines are intended to contribute to Cambodia’s reputation and resilience as a safe, attractive, opportunity filled and welcoming tourism destination. The takeaway for tourism businesses is that the festival is not simply a busy period to manage, but an opportunity to demonstrate the quality and hospitality that Cambodia wants visitors to associate with its tourism industry.
Businesses Asked to Put Safety and Cleanliness First
Tourism operators have been instructed to cooperate closely with authorities at all levels to maintain security, safety, public order, hygiene and cleanliness around their business locations. These responsibilities become particularly important during periods when visitor numbers and local travel activity increase.
The ministry is also asking operators to make their products and services easy for customers to understand. Businesses should publicly display their offerings, prices and applicable terms and conditions so tourists can make informed decisions before purchasing or using a service. Operators are encouraged to maintain reasonable prices while continuing to improve service quality.
For businesses, transparent pricing can be particularly important during busy holiday periods. Clear information helps reduce misunderstandings and strengthens customer confidence, while reasonable pricing combined with good service can contribute to positive visitor experiences and the reputation of the wider destination.
Parking and Traffic Management Matter Too
The ministry has also highlighted parking as part of the visitor experience. Tourism businesses are expected to provide sufficient parking for domestic and international tourists and clearly identify parking areas with appropriate signs.
Operators are also expected to prevent disorderly parking of motorcycles and vehicles that could interfere with public traffic. Although parking may appear to be a relatively small operational issue, poor traffic management can quickly affect visitors’ first impressions of a tourism establishment, particularly during busy festival periods.
For hotels, restaurants, attractions and other tourism businesses, planning parking arrangements in advance can help improve convenience and reduce unnecessary congestion. The ministry’s guidance makes clear that tourism service quality extends beyond what happens inside a business and includes the surrounding environment experienced by visitors.
Khmer Culture Should Be Visible During the Festival
Tourism businesses are being encouraged to decorate their premises with appropriate lighting and display the national flag outside their establishments. Inside, businesses are required to display the three official portraits of the Royal Family in accordance with Ministry of Tourism guidelines issued in December 2024.
The ministry also wants decorations inside and outside tourism establishments to reflect Khmer culture and identity, or the distinctive identity of the relevant capital or province. Businesses are expected to respect Cambodian traditions and customs when preparing their premises for the festival.
This emphasis on cultural identity gives tourism operators an opportunity to create an environment that feels connected to Cambodia’s heritage rather than treating the festival simply as a commercial period. Thoughtful decoration, appropriate presentation and respect for local traditions can also enhance the experience for international visitors seeking a genuine understanding of Cambodian culture.
Fire Prevention Gets Special Attention
The ministry has urged businesses to take extra precautions when using candles, incense, lamps, cooking fires and electrical systems during the festival. These items can form part of traditional activities and normal business operations, but they also require careful management to reduce fire risks.
Tourism operators therefore need to pay particular attention to electrical equipment, cooking areas and any decorative or ceremonial use of flames. Basic precautions are especially important when establishments are busy and staff are managing larger numbers of customers.
Fire prevention is ultimately both a safety and business continuity issue. A preventable incident can put visitors and employees at risk while potentially causing significant damage to property and disrupting operations. The ministry’s warning reinforces the importance of treating safety preparations as part of overall service quality.
Staff Professionalism Will Shape the Visitor Experience
The Ministry of Tourism is also calling on businesses to strengthen staff ethics, conduct and professional capacity. Employees are expected to improve their skills in quality service, hospitality and other areas relevant to tourism and service industries.
Staff members should wear appropriate uniforms according to their respective roles, with the ministry encouraging businesses to incorporate Khmer characteristics into their presentation. For customers, employees are often the most visible representation of a tourism business, making professional behaviour and hospitality essential to the overall visitor experience.
During Pchum Ben, businesses may encounter both domestic and international visitors with different expectations and needs. Well trained and professional employees can help customers feel welcomed, provide useful information and respond effectively to service issues. The takeaway is that investment in people remains just as important as investment in facilities.
Restroom Hygiene Is Part of Tourism Quality
The ministry has placed particular emphasis on restroom hygiene, requiring businesses to establish regular and frequent cleaning schedules and ensure that essential supplies are available.
These supplies include hand soap, hand towels, toilet paper and other necessary items. Businesses are also expected to properly maintain separate male and female restrooms to ensure safety and convenience for users.
Clean restrooms can have a surprisingly strong influence on how visitors judge an establishment. During a busy festival period, facilities can require more frequent attention than usual. Tourism operators that plan cleaning schedules and replenish supplies consistently can help maintain service standards throughout the day.
Businesses Encouraged to Become Tourism Ambassadors
The ministry is asking tourism operators to encourage domestic and international tourists to participate actively in tourism promotion campaigns using three slogans: “Tourism for All, All for Tourism”; “Tourism Grows in Peace”; and “Everyone is an Ambassador of Cambodian Tourism.”
The message places tourism promotion not only in the hands of government agencies but also among businesses, employees and visitors. Every interaction with a tourist can influence perceptions of Cambodia, from the quality of a hotel stay to the service at a restaurant or the professionalism of a tour operator.
For tourism businesses, this creates an opportunity to turn good service into positive destination promotion. Visitors who enjoy their experiences are more likely to share them with friends, family and wider audiences, helping strengthen Cambodia’s reputation through personal recommendations and positive experiences.
Compliance Remains a Core Responsibility
The Ministry of Tourism has reminded all tourism operators that they must comply with relevant laws, regulations and legal instruments issued by the government, the ministry and subnational administrations.
Tourism departments in the capital and provinces, together with tourism operators, have been instructed to disseminate and implement the guidelines with a high level of responsibility from the date of signing. This places responsibility on both public authorities and private businesses to ensure that the guidelines are understood and applied.
For business owners and managers, compliance should be viewed as part of responsible tourism management. Meeting regulatory requirements while maintaining strong service standards can help businesses build trust with customers, authorities and business partners.
Pchum Ben Could Test Cambodia’s Tourism Standards
The Kan Ben and Pchum Ben festival offers Cambodia an important opportunity to showcase its culture, hospitality and tourism services. The Ministry of Tourism’s guidelines address many of the practical details that determine whether visitors have a safe, convenient and positive experience.
For tourism operators, preparation should go beyond simply expecting more customers. Transparent prices, clean facilities, organised parking, professional employees, culturally appropriate surroundings and strong safety procedures can all contribute to a better experience and stronger customer confidence.
As Cambodia continues to strengthen its tourism sector, major traditional festivals provide valuable opportunities to demonstrate service quality in real conditions. If businesses consistently deliver on these standards, Pchum Ben can become more than a period of increased domestic travel. It can also reinforce Cambodia’s image as a destination where cultural authenticity, hospitality, safety and professional tourism services come together.
Conclusion
The Ministry of Tourism’s Pchum Ben guidance sends a clear message to tourism operators: visitor experience must remain a priority throughout the festival. From pricing and parking to hygiene, cultural presentation, fire prevention and staff professionalism, every part of the customer journey matters.
With the festival running from September 27 to October 11, 2026, businesses have an important opportunity to prepare early and turn increased travel activity into stronger customer experiences. For Cambodia’s tourism industry, the broader lesson is straightforward: a successful festival season is measured not only by the number of visitors, but also by the quality, safety and memories those visitors take home.