Cambodia. New trend on TikTok. They run around Khmer temples

Video game-like footage from the temple complex Angkor Wat in northwestern Cambodia are gaining popularity on TikTok and Instagram.

Their authors imitate the movements of characters from a mobile game. Temple Run and use the soundtrack from it. Players of this well-known arcade game, the first part of which was released in 2011, control a hero shown from a third-person perspective, running away from monkeys to save a statue of a god that he has appropriated. The gameplay involves avoiding obstacles such as destroyed bridges and abysses.and its background is the ruins of Khmer temples.

Many recordings imitating the gameplay in the original setting have received hundreds of thousands of likes.

Older Internet users associate influencer videos with cult seriesa Tomb Raider games and movies, whose history dates back to 1996, and the Indiana Jones action adventure films.

The materials have gained extraordinary popularity and have received many comments both online and in the Cambodian media. These indicate that in the recordings, in addition to the most famous Angkor Wat, one can also recognize the city of Siem Reap located near it. the former Buddhist monastery of Ta Phrom and thousand-year-old temples of the god Shiva: Baphuon i Takeo.

The majority of commentators praises the initiative, stressing that it can attract more tourists to the Asian kingdom. However, there are those who are concerned about safety and point out that the boom in social media platforms is incompatible with local culture.

The Phnom Penh Post, a daily newspaper published in Khmer and English, emphasizes that the recordings help to show the beauty of historical temples to a wider audience and to promote the importance of preserving them. The editorial team also suggests that online runners set an example for other visitors on how to behave respectfully around ancient monuments.

Some of the authors have posted videos online showing how after sprinting through the ruins of the temple colonnades and the corridory pay tribute to nearby Buddhist shrines.

The authority managing the Angkor Wat complex has not yet commented on whether running around the temples violates any applicable norms or whether it has helped attract more visitors, but the Ministry of Tourism has raised the issue.

In an interview with the business portal Kiripost, his spokesman Top Sopheak stated that the ministry “gives awards” to influencers who promote monuments in this way. He did not say directly whether the Cambodian authorities themselves inspired the popular series of videos, but admitted that the ministry chce, afor Internet users to create content promoting specific places in an easily recognizable way.

Using foreigners from other cultural backgrounds to promote tourism, however, carries risks. Giveć some of the most recognizable monuments these are ruins that are not used for religious purposes todaymost Cambodian temples are used for prayer. Tourists cannot run everywhere and need to know in which areas it is allowed, the spokesman added, without explaining whether and how the authorities are educating foreigners on the matter.

Cambodian media outlets have repeatedly said that online celebrities should promote the country while respecting the cultural and historical significance of the places they visit. But some industry insiders say that may prove difficult.

Khmer website Thmey Thmey quotes local tour guide You Khemarak, who I oppose promoting tourism in a way that is inconsistent with tradition. Khemarak said the temples are for meditation and have nothing to do with the Olympic stadium. He said that using them in the way that influencers are doing shows a lack of respect for Cambodia's historical heritage.

Inot quoted critics internet fashion They fear that it may contribute to accidents or lead to damage to elements of temples.

Chan Monicharya, a tour guide in Siem Reap province, told Kiripost that Obstacle courses are incompatible with Cambodian religion and culture, especially if they take place near chapels with statues of deities. In her opinion, this trend should be curtailed during the peak season.

A complex of Hindu and Buddhist temples dating back to the 12th century Angkor What It is the largest religious complex in the world and the main cultural attraction of Cambodia.

Siem Reap Province, where it is located, is a magnet for foreign visitors, but local authorities say its potential is not being fully exploited. The Ministry of Tourism and the ANA, the authority that manages the most important monuments, are trying to increase the number of visitors. In June, ANA lifted restrictions on photography and video recording at Angkor Wat to increase its visibility online. Previously, influencers, media workers and filmmakers had to apply to the officeniks for written permission for recording.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, last year Cambodia was visited by 5.4 million foreigners holidaymakers. That’s a nearly 140 percent increase from 2022, but authorities now expect the country will need another year to break its pre-pandemic record for arrivals. The Asian country saw 6.6 million foreign visitors in 2019, more than six times fewer than neighboring Thailand and almost three times fewer than Vietnam.

From Bangkok for inside Thomas Augustyniak

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