One of the hottest trends that has gone viral is where people race, jump and crash in Cambodia’s ancient Angkor Wat and other temple ruins in Southeast Asia as a live version of a popular video game. This trend has left conservationists flabbergasted with some saying the views are degrading and can cause irreparable damage to 900 years old sculptures.
Some videos on TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and other platforms have shown visitors racing down narrow stone paths and leaping over doorways; often with sound from Temple Run video game. Some videos have received more than 2 million views and inspire copy cat versions daily.
The potential destruction concerns Simon Warrack, an environmentalist who has worked for thirty years to preserve these thousand-year-old ruins at Angkor as well as cultural and religious sensitivities being trampled upon.
“You wouldn’t run through St. Peter’s in Rome or any western church — so why is it okay to do it in Cambodia?” asked Warrack. “There is not only the danger of people bumping into or knocking them over but this actually affects the spirituality and culture found within those temples.”
Warrack said he’s spoken with Cambodian counterparts about his apprehensions. “Angkor Wat is still deeply revered by the people,” he said. “Every stone is believed to contain spirits of ancestors.”
This incident highlights how many historical sites today grapple with reconciling growing tourism, sustainability and local development especially when revenge travel is still a thing post-Covid world. It also indicates how much power influencers carry with regard to influencing tourists through social media.
However, it may be worth mentioning that while Cambodia isn’t the only country experiencing an increase in poor conduct lately, unlike other popular tourist destinations like Indonesia or Spain which have taken action against ill-behaved travellers by deporting them back home- even though they were just arrested for such acts – no such measures have been undertaken by the authority responsible for the Angkor temples complex. International arrivals to Cambodia have yet to reach pre-pandemic levels and some Cambodians have pointed out on social media that this trend is great for increasing much needed arrival numbers.
According to an Parami trends report, social media is a top source of inspiration for travel for many holiday seekers. The report showed that almost three-quarters of Millennials and Gen Zs who were surveyed said they were influenced by different social media trends while on vacation and about half wanted to brag about their trips on Instagram.
Many videos in the temple run challenge are performed by people in their 20s, with some girls running in dresses or scarves. Angelina Dougherty, a Cambodian-American crowned Miss Pacific Asian American in last year’s pageant joined the viral video movement sharing her running and somersaulting done together with her friend in one of the temples just like one plays a video game.
Dougherty also stated that she did not film near any Buddha statues as it was disrespectful during an interview.
The viral trend is beneficial for boosting Cambodian temples and promoting the nation, according to Dougherty, a teacher of traditional dance in Cambodia. “Cambodia is often overlooked so seeing that we are getting acknowledged and promoting tourism and making locals happy really makes me happy,” she stated.
Focus on Hollywood
Hollywood introduced Angkor Wat to much of the world when the 2001 movie Lara Croft: Tomb Raider was filmed at the complex’s Angkor Thom temple. That is followed by Temple Run, a video game from 2011 by Imangi Studios, where one plays as a character who runs through temple ruins and must avoid different obstacles including demonic creatures. The background for Temple Run features stonework and passageways that are very similar to the ruins at Angkor.
Angkor has more than 100 temples and therefore one of Southeast Asia’s most vital archaeological sites. The ruins contribute significantly to the predominantly agrarian economy of the country. Last year, before COVID-19 struck, it welcomed a record 6.6 million tourists who helped generate over $80 million from ticket sales. These ruins have registered approximately six hundred thirty thousand tourists this year so far.
The complex made up of among others Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom comprises sandstone blocks which survived wars as well as earthquakes plus forest encroachment. International conservators have added their efforts in terms of restoration works throughout.
While temporarily giving online interest in Angkor a boost however it remains important to promote safe access, educational visitation as well as respecting local religious/spiritual/social significance of these areas said “Ginevra Boatto Cambodia country director World Monuments Fund (WMF) which partners with relevant authorities tasked with safeguarding these sites (Boatto). New visitor trends should be carefully managed to avoid any negative impact.”
There may be caveats on some video reenactments indicating appreciation for the temples. Moreover viewers have generally reacted positively, many of them have been thrilled to know about temples through this challenge. On the other hand, Hans Leisen, who has been heading the German Apsara Conservation Project that preserves sculptures at Angkor Wat for 30 years, did not hold back when he saw those videos.
“It’s nonsense,” said Leisen, who’s worked to preserve the temples’ delicate bas reliefs and carvings that tell religious stories. “If you’re running through the temple, you won’t see the beauty of the carvings. And if you fall or stumble, you’ll touch a wall to stabilize yourself and endanger the fragile carvings.”
Leisen fears that such trends can be replicated in different sites around Southeast Asia. For example, on Bali last year Indonesia established a tourism task force and hotline where locals can report on bad behavior by tourists. Their updated guidance for this year’s estimated 14 million island visitors requires those individuals to adhere to local laws and customs like covering up in temples or respecting sacredness of religious places.
The Apsara National Authority, the government body responsible for overseeing the Angkor complex in Cambodia, put out guidelines for visitors eight years ago that forbid touching carvings and leaning on temple structures. Local media also reports that recently, the tourism minister of the kingdom has voiced his concerns over viral trends which may lead to damage of the ruins. Apsara did not comment while a request for comments was not answered by the ministry of tourism.
Nevertheless, there is at least one Cambodian who isn’t bothered by this viral challenge.
According to Seun Sam, a policy analyst with Royal Academy of Cambodia, these videos may boost Cambodia’s much-needed tourism sector which accounted for 18% of GDP last year 2019. The Asian Development Bank says this is part of wider tourism in Cambodia that will drive an anticipated economic growth rate of 5.8% this year.
“Unless they damage temples or disturb other people,” says Seun as he cited some cases where visitors were seen running on pavements instead of using it as walkways. “Tourism matters so much to Cambodia’s economy. They buy things when foreigners come; they spend money on hotels and transport services. We want more.”
