Since November 2022, the APSARA National Authority has started the process of organising the walkways at Angkor Wat to reduce the erosion of the stones and better control the flow of tourists visiting the temple, said the authority in a news release this morning.

Mr. Seng Sotheara, Director of the Department of Tourism Development and Culture of the APSARA National Authority, said that the main goals of the walkways at the Angkor Wat Temple are to reduce the erosion of the temple stone due to the past, especially during the rainy season, the mud sticks to the soles of the shoes, causing the soil to rub against the stones, as well as to control the flow of tourists appropriately, avoid walking on the grass and the ground, maintain order and contribute to promoting the beauty of Angkor Wat to be green in all seasons.

He added that the walkway project at Angkor Wat was implemented in three phases. In the first phase, APSARA National Authority received funding from GIZ under the auspices of UNESCO in Cambodia for a total length of 476 metres. The first step in the process of preparing the walkway is about 60 percent completed, with the expectation that it will be completed by the end of January or the beginning of February 2023.

He continued that the new walkways that the APSARA National Authority has prepared are in four different locations, while the old wooden walkway is still kept.

“APSARA National Authority hopes that after preparing the new walkways, all tourists will travel on them, avoid stepping on the grass and adhere to the Angkor Code of Conduct. We would like to request national and international tourists to take care of the environment in the Angkor area by putting garbage in the trash properly,” said the news release.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press