Smoke-free Angkor
June 22, 2012 by Wanwisa Ngamsangchaikit
Filed under Cambodia, Government, News
SIEM REAP, 21 June 2012: A smoking ban has been introduced at Angkor Wat to help reduce litter and pollution at the world heritage site.
Angkor Archaeological Park Apsara Authority deputy general director, Sok Leakna, said the “temple would be smoke-free to help keep the complex clean.”
“In addition, we want to protect our temples from the threat of fire and improve the environment.”
However, at present there are no plans to fine visitors who defy the ban and it does not apply to locations and villages outside the temple area.
Apsara Authority general vice secretary, Tam Sambu, said “No Smoking” signs will be added and officials will have a quiet word with offenders to explain why the ban is in place.
Tourism Minister Thong Khon said it was a good move to prevent the temple from suffering further damage as 5,000 foreign tourists visit the temple daily and smoking only helps to pollute the area.”
More than 2 million foreign and domestic tourists visit the site in Siem Reap in the country’s northwest annually.
The entrance fees to Angkor Wat start at US$20 for international visitors for a day, US$40 for a three-day visit, and US$60 for the entire week.
The temple was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1992.
Well another way to blame the smokers of all worlds’ ills; note that I am a smoker but I never throw a cigarette butt on the ground, always keep it with me and later throw in a bin. I would think APsara authority would rather control their heritage guard charging tourists 10$ for 5 mn of entering forbidden areas, damaging teh most fragile areas, stop sale of plastic bottles and place water refill station, forbid styrofoam packaging in shops, plastic bags and littering in general instead of making smokers feel guilty again and prevent them from smoking.