In what hopefully will prove to be a positive development
for Angkor, a world heritage site in Cambodia and one of the most important
archaeological sites in South-East Asia, the government assumed responsibility
for ticket sales at the site effective January 1, 2016.
The takeover, formally announced by Cambodian Prime Minister
Hun Sen in November, marks the end of a 17-year concession to the Sokimex Group,
a politically connected firm which also operates a national grid of fuel
stations, hotels and resorts. Sokimex has been the focus of corruption accusations
in its handling of the concession. According to opposition politician Son Chhay
the company was involved in an arrangement whereby visitor numbers and revenue were
under-reported, resulting in large amounts of money being unaccounted for.
With 2.1 million foreigner visitors to Angkor
in 2015 (up to 2 percent over 2014), the site reportedly generated USD60
million in revenue last year. Given the poverty faced by many ordinary Cambodians,
not to mention the critical importance of continued investment in the
preservation of the Angkor archaeological site, let's hope that the new
arrangements closes a chapter on the misappropriation of Angkor ticket sale
revenues.
One would hardly think it necessary, but it appears that
tourists visiting the Angkor Wat world heritage site in Cambodia need to
reminded not to expose "sex organs" while visiting the temple
complex.
Following a string of incidents in which foreign
tourists have been caught in various stages of undress, local authorities have
reportedly issued new conduct guidelines for visitors. In addition to requirements
that would not be out of place at any religious site, the guidelines warn
tourists that "any act of looting, breaking or damaging Angkor, or
exposing sex organs and nudity in public area is a crime punishable by law."
You've been warned!
It is with good reason that Angkor Wat receives millions of
visitors each year. The temples, carvings, statues and surrounding landscape
are exquisite, and one could easily spend several days absorbing everything the
site and its surroundings have to offer.
However, my memories of my include an uncomfortably close
shave with serious injury or worse for the sake of a photo. Not paying
attention to where I was placing my feet as I framed a photo inside the temple
of Angkor Wat I tumbled off a wall
and fell 12 to 16 feet before landing in the mud below. Apart from a few cuts
and bruises (and a destroyed camera) I was able to continue my visit, but it
was certainly a strong reminder of the need to tread more carefully during the
remainder of the trip. The photo above is the last one I took before my camera
met its end.
