InfluencersvisitingCambodia’s historicalAngkor Wathave brought theTemple Runvideo game to life. While many locals have praised the new trend, others have slammed videos of social media content creators running in sacred spaces. Some have argued that certain footage denigrated the almost 900-year-oldsculptures, risking irreparable damage.
HighlightsInfluencers running like Temple Run game at Angkor Wat has divided opinion among locals.Conservationist Simon Warrack stressed the potential for physical and cultural damage.Tim Win’s Temple Run video at Angkor Wat garnered nearly 2 million views on TikTok.
Short videos shared on TikTok feature visitors running down narrow stone pathways and vaulting over passageways in historical sites of the Southeastern Asian country.
The new trend typically shows a person taking action inCambodia’s substantial temples and ruins, overlayed with sounds from the popularTemple Runvideo game.
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Influencers visiting Cambodia’s historical Angkor Wat have brought theTemple Runvideo game to life
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Last month, content creator Tim Win went viral for sharing his version of the trend, sharing a clip of himself onTikTokrunning inside Angkor Wat, which amassed nearly 2 million views.
Similarly, TikToker Chiara Contino received 2.4 million views after following the same trend, posting a video of the same style on thevideo-sharing app.
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He toldBloombergon August 22: “You wouldn’t run through St. Peters in Rome or any Western church — so why is it okay to do it in Cambodia?
Many locals have praised the new trend
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“Every stone is considered to contain the spirits of the ancestors,” he added.
However, the authority that oversees the Angkor temple complex hasn’t issued any reprimands to discourage the viral trend, according toBloomberg.
Some have slammed the videos of social media content creators running in sacred spaces
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Hollywood introduced Angkor Wat to much of the world when the 2001 movieLara Croft: Tomb Raiderwas filmed at the complex’s Angkor Thom temple, as perBloomberg.
Angkor, which is on the United Nations’ World Heritage List and consists of more than 100 temples, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia.
When History Meets TikTok: Angkor Wat Edition#NoCoinsCollected#TempleRunners#CambodiaGoneWildpic.twitter.com/dntL8U7PvZ
— Ottster Gaming (@OttsterG)August 29, 2024
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As per the American outlet, Angkor’s ruins are a big economic driver for the predominantly rural country. Before the pandemic hit, the 400-acre compound saw a record 6.6 milliontouristswho brought in more than $80 million in ticket sales. So far this year, the ruins have attracted some 630,000 visitors.
The complex, which includes the famous temples of Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom, was constructed with blocks of sandstone and has survived war, earthquakes, and forest overgrowth.
Some have argued that certain footage denigrated the almost 900-year-old sculptures
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Over the years, international conservators have contributed to the ongoing restoration efforts.
“While the trend has temporarily boosted online interest in Angkor, it’s essential to promote safe access, educational visitation, and respect for the local religious, spiritual, and social significance of the sites,” Ginevra Boatto, Cambodia country director of the World Monuments Fund, toldBloomberg.
Hans Leisen, who has headed the German Apsara Conservation Project to preserve sculptures at Angkor Wat for 30 years, told the publication of the TikTok trend: “It’s nonsense. If you’re running through the temple, you won’t see the beauty of the carvings.”
Hans further shared: “And if you fall or stumble, you’ll touch a wall to stabilize yourself and endanger the fragile carvings.”
On the other hand, Seun Sam, a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, reportedly said that the videos could help bring much-neededtourismto Cambodia, which contributed 18% of the gross domestic product in 2019.
Critics said the trend was risking irreparable damage
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According toBloomberg, general tourism in Cambodia is helping to drive the country’s expected economic growth of 5.8% this year.
Seun told the outlet: “As long as they don’t damage the temples and bother other people, it’s okay.”
He concluded: “Tourism is very important for Cambodia’s economy. When foreign visitors come, they buy things, they spend on hotels and transport. We want to encourage that.”
“Tourists really need to learn some respect,” a reader commented
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