Why tourists are playing real-life 'Temple Run' at Unesco site Angkor Wat in Cambodia

Tourists are making 'Temple Run' videos at Angkor Wat, Cambodia. (Image: @chmnaidu/X)

A new social media trend has ignited fierce debate after tourists were seen running and jumping around Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, a Unesco World Heritage site, mimicking the popular video game “Temple Run.” Videos of these stunts have gone viral, drawing both admiration and sharp criticism, as concerns grow over the impact of such activities on the site’s cultural and historical significance.

The Angkor Wat temple complex, a symbol of Cambodia’s rich heritage, is now the backdrop for a series of TikTok videos where tourists, inspired by the mobile game “Temple Run,” sprint through the ancient ruins, leaping off structures and treating the sacred site as an obstacle course. The game, which has been popular since its release in 2011, involves guiding an explorer through temple ruins while dodging various hazards—a premise now being dangerously re-enacted in real life.

While some social media users praise the content creators for showcasing Cambodia’s heritage and potentially boosting tourism, others are alarmed by the disrespectful behaviour and the potential damage to the site. Conservationists and cultural experts are particularly concerned about the broader implications of such trends.

A spokesperson for Unesco stated the risks posed by these viral trends, saying, “Social media trends can threaten the sustainability of tourism by encouraging a high volume of visitors to congregate in specific areas. Moreover, the obsession with capturing and posting the perfect video can detract from the authentic travel experience, reducing engagement with the cultural and historical significance of a place.”

However, despite the outcry, there are those who view the trend more favourably. Commenters on the viral videos have expressed excitement about visiting Cambodia, with one user writing, “Fantastic, I am coming in a few weeks to do more videos there to promote tourism in beautiful Cambodia.” Some see the trend as a creative way to draw attention to Cambodia’s tourism offerings, especially as the country recovers from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Similar cases of tourist disruptions at heritage sites have been reported globally, from the crumbling historic structures in Matera, Italy, to vandalism at the Colosseum in Rome.