Angkor Wat, a 9th century historic Hindu temple attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site at Siem Reap in Cambodia is facing risks of irreparable damage as several tourists have been racing around the complex in an attempt to mimic the popular video game Temple Run.

According to reports, visitors sprinting, leaping and crashing around Angkor Wat and other temple ruins in the Southeast Asian nation in a live recreation of Temple Run has become one of the hottest viral trends.

This has left conservationists aghast, with several saying the race for views denigrates the almost 900-year-old sculptures.

Short videos of visitors have emerged running down narrow stone pathways and vaulting over passageways, often overlayed with sounds from the popular video game. In the Temple Run challenge, many videos feature people in their 20s, some running in dresses and shawls.

These have been making the rounds on popular social media platforms including TikTok, Facebook, YouTube and others. Some videos have received more than 2 million views and inspire similar versions daily.

The report adds that Simon Warrack, a conservationist who has worked for three decades to preserve the nearly millennia-old ruins at Angkor, is troubled by the potential damage as well as the cultural and religious insensitivities being trampled on.

He says it is not just potential damage to the stones by people bumping into them and falling or knocking things over, but it is also damage to the spiritual and cultural value of the temples.

These reports emerge when many European destinations are protesting against mass tourism and how bad tourist behaviour affects their daily lives. Conservationists say that these trends also underscore the perturbing sway influencers and social media have in driving tourism.

Cambodia is not the only destination to see an uptick in bad behaviour, whereas other tourist hotspots, including Indonesia and Spain, have taken steps to tame unruly visitors. 

For many holiday seekers, social media is a top source of inspiration for travel, according to a report by American Express, a financial services firm.

According to the report, nearly three in four Millennials and Gen Zs surveyed said they have participated in social media trends while on vacation, while around half said they want to show off their travels to impress their followers.

Angkor Wat is on the United Nations World Heritage List (Photo: India Outbound)

Angkor Wat, 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. 

The ruins are a big economic driver for the predominantly rural country. Before the pandemic hit, the 163 hectare compound saw a record 6.6 million tourists who brought in more than USD 80 million in revenue. 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 in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, with blocks of sandstone and has survived war, earthquakes and forest overgrowth. Over the years, international conservators have contributed to the ongoing restoration efforts.

In Cambodia, the Apsara National Authority, the government agency that oversees the Angkor complex, issued a code of conduct for visitors at least eight years ago that prohibits touching carvings and leaning on temple structures. 

According to reports by the local media, the kingdom’s tourism minister has more recently expressed concern about potential damage to the ruins due to the viral trend.