Lights are recessed into holes that tourism officials maintain were not drilled into the temple structure. (Photo Supplied)Thursday, 28 May 2009
Written by Ros Dina
The Phnom Penh Post
A heritage specialist has requested intervention from the prime minister in a disagreement over light fixtures on temples at the Angkor Wat complex.
A HERITAGE advocate has sent a letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen urging him to stop an ongoing light installation project at the Angkor Wat temple, saying equipping the 11-century World Heritage site with lights will have a negative effect on its ambiance.
"The illumination will disturb tourists and badly affect the beauty of the temples. By the law of the Apsara Authority, even villagers are not allowed to build new houses in the Angkor area, but it is regrettable that the area is now equipped with lights," Moeung Son, president of the Khmer Civilisation Foundation Organisation (KCF), said at a press conference Tuesday.
The project, which began late last year, was designed to encourage "night lighting" tours and prolong the stay of tourists in the area.
However, Moeung Son said it would also fail to do that.
"According my experience in the tourism sector, cultural tourists never watch temples at night. They are particularly interested in Khmer ancient building styles."
Ho Vandy, head of the permanent committee of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, also said that the lights would not increase tourist traffic to the site.
"Only about 20 or 30 tourists come to visit the temple or performances at night," Ho Vandy said.
Details of fixtures vague
Tourism officials have been vague about how the lights have been fixed to structures, saying they were put into "existing" holes in the temples.
The Ministry of Tourism and the Apsara Authority have maintained that the arrangement would help attract more visitors and consequently raise income in the tourism sector.
"I hope that the illumination will increase the number of tourists, and the Angkor Wat temple will become productive, bringing more income for Cambodia's economy. Moreover, the Angkor Wat area will look more active and lively," So Mara, a secretary of state at the Tourism Ministry, said Tuesday.
"Now we always tell visitors to get out when it's dark because we are afraid that they may fall down while walking in the dark. But when there are lights, visitors will have more time to walk around," he added.
A HERITAGE advocate has sent a letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen urging him to stop an ongoing light installation project at the Angkor Wat temple, saying equipping the 11-century World Heritage site with lights will have a negative effect on its ambiance.
"The illumination will disturb tourists and badly affect the beauty of the temples. By the law of the Apsara Authority, even villagers are not allowed to build new houses in the Angkor area, but it is regrettable that the area is now equipped with lights," Moeung Son, president of the Khmer Civilisation Foundation Organisation (KCF), said at a press conference Tuesday.
The project, which began late last year, was designed to encourage "night lighting" tours and prolong the stay of tourists in the area.
However, Moeung Son said it would also fail to do that.
"According my experience in the tourism sector, cultural tourists never watch temples at night. They are particularly interested in Khmer ancient building styles."
Ho Vandy, head of the permanent committee of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, also said that the lights would not increase tourist traffic to the site.
"Only about 20 or 30 tourists come to visit the temple or performances at night," Ho Vandy said.
Details of fixtures vague
Tourism officials have been vague about how the lights have been fixed to structures, saying they were put into "existing" holes in the temples.
The Ministry of Tourism and the Apsara Authority have maintained that the arrangement would help attract more visitors and consequently raise income in the tourism sector.
"I hope that the illumination will increase the number of tourists, and the Angkor Wat temple will become productive, bringing more income for Cambodia's economy. Moreover, the Angkor Wat area will look more active and lively," So Mara, a secretary of state at the Tourism Ministry, said Tuesday.
"Now we always tell visitors to get out when it's dark because we are afraid that they may fall down while walking in the dark. But when there are lights, visitors will have more time to walk around," he added.
10 comments:
i think they should use something that doesn't required drilling holes into the stone work, maybe something by glue or some kind of adhesive. it is good things to install lighting at angkor monuments and parks. why not mix ancient with modern conveniences like lightings. god bless cambodia.
i hope authority would decorate angkor monuments with lights to make them look beautiful, but at the same time not damaging the ancient khmer temples by drilling holes into the ancient stoneworks. god bless cambodia.
The Vietnamese are trying to destroy Angkor Wat, which is the Khmer' soul. The Khmer harts will be destroy by those vietnamese and vietnamese' agents. Because they don't care, as long as they can destroy khmer and get rich! Sok Anh is the Vietnamese blood in Takeo Province, Srok Kirivong. Sok Anh was vietcong agent since 1967-68 his people in Kirivong known since he born.
Sok Anh and Sok Kong please don't destroy CAMBODIA!
2:47 AM
have to be very carful.
I do not agree the illuminantion will increase the number of tourists!
Like the "roots of a silk cotton tree running along the gallery of the second enclosure" in Ta Prohm temple, they are really maginific!
The reason why i take this example because: during the work to conserve and repair Angkor temple project, some people wanted to remove these roots in order to conserve the temple, but some French experts did not agree on it.
They propose to keep this marvellous like what they are. Thanks to them!
It really looks like a fairy tale, one of my English friend said.
Thus, the Ministry of Tourism and the Apsara Authority must be carful and pay more attention on the damage of this wonderful ancient temple.
Vivement le Cambodge!
UP
so the people don't understanding about the unesco put everything will look nice for Angkor
wat so don't say nothing,because all of you not the khmer people.You are never helping khmer country going up,just make khmer country going down everytime so becareful of your acted ok.
IF ANGKOR WAT TEMPLE WAS MEANT TO BE VIEWED AT NIGHT, THEN OUR FORFATHER WOULD'VE EQUIPT IT WITH LIGHTS.
THIS IS WHY WE CALL IT HISTORICAL MONUMENT.....STUPID?
I have an alternative for those who wants to view it after hours. Try a virtual tour from the comfort of your hotel.
"If it doesn't break, don't fix it!"
Apsa! that enought open during the
day,if have night tour might have a lot of thiefts much more than day tour.
Let the tourists tour Angkor during the days and drink, buy souvenir and have dinner at night in the city.
I thougth So Mara had been fired from his post at the Ministry of Tourism because of his involvement in the Russian prostitutes' scandal? What is he doing back at the Ministry?
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