The second "Smile of Cambodia" event was held in front of the famed Angkor Wat here in northwest Siem Reap province on Tuesday, aiming at promoting culture and the world heritage site to tourists.

Angkor Wat is a major ancient temple in the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the two-day event, Phoeurng Sackona, minister of culture and fine arts, said the event was designed to promote culture and enhance tourism to attract international visitors to the Angkor.

"This event has not only promoted Cambodia's arts, culture, tradition and custom, but also contributed to revitalizing the tourism sector, which is one of the key catalysts for the kingdom's economic growth," she said.

Sackona said the event was hosted by the APSARA National Authority (ANA), a government agency responsible for managing, safeguarding and preserving the Angkor Archaeological Park, in collaboration with the Khmer Artists Association.

According to the ANA, activities during the two-day event include exhibitions of local cuisine and souvenirs, entertainment programs, and cultural shows, among others.

The 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park, which is Cambodia's most popular tourist destination, is home to 91 ancient temples, built from the ninth to the 13th centuries.

The ancient park attracted almost 700,000 international visitors during the January-September period of 2024, earning a gross revenue of 32.5 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise. 

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