Viral videos of careless tourists on a real ‘temple tour’ at Angkor Wat have shocked experts
When Temple Run debuted on the gaming scene in 2011, everyone was glued to their phones. But now, some travelers have taken the game quite literally and turned the UNESCO World Heritage Site into a must-see. Angkor Wat In the trend dubbed “Temple Run,” many tourists have been sharing videos of themselves running through the temple complex to the game’s soundtrack, racking up millions of views online and adding the heritage site to the list of destinations in danger due to overtourism and poor tourist behavior.
While increased tourism has brought economic benefits to CambodiaThis trend is one of the repercussions of the social media-driven travel craze, raising concerns about the conservation of this ancient temple complex. Experts are concerned about the potential damage to the fragile structures as this behaviour can lead to physical damage to the ancient structures as well as erosion and disruption of the surrounding environment.
Simon Warrack, a conservationist who has worked for three decades to preserve the nearly millennia-old ruins of Angkor, is concerned about the potential damage as well as the cultural and religious insensitivity that is being trampled on, according to his comments to Bloomberg. “You wouldn’t run around St. Peter’s in Rome or any Western church, so why is it OK to do so in Cambodia?” he says. “It’s not just about the potential damage to the stones from people bumping into them and falling or knocking things over, which is real, but also the damage to the spiritual and cultural value of the temples.”
Angkor Wat’s delicate stonework is particularly vulnerable to this kind of treatment. Jumping and climbing can cause cracks and stone chips, which can lead to further deterioration. In fact, the Apsara National Authority had issued a code of conduct for visitors eight years ago, prohibiting touching the carvings and leaning on the temple structures. In addition, increased foot traffic can contribute to erosion and damage to the temple’s intricate carvings and bas-reliefs.
Conservationists and temple authorities have expressed concern over the negative impact of this trend on the heritage site and have called for stricter enforcement of rules and regulations to discourage such behaviour. Efforts are underway to educate visitors about the importance of preserving the temple complex and promote responsible tourism practices.
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