Being a Responsible Tourist at Angkor Wat
Look for the Heritage Friendly logo in shops.
The temples of Angkor are among the world's most remarkable monuments and archaeological sites. These sites represent an incredible asset that can serve to benefit Cambodia and its people for many generations. While they may have been around for a thousand years, these sites are fragile and must be treated with respect and care. To be a responsible tourist, simply follow these basic guidelines:
- Do not purchase ancient artifacts, including glass and stone beads, pottery, stone tools and metal objects.
- Dispose of your rubbish appropriately and keep heritage sites clean.
- Respect the temples, they are active religeous monuments and world heritage treasures.
- Refrain from touching carvings and bas-reliefs as this damages the stone.
- Conserve water in Siem Reap as the water table is dropping, which may make the monuments unstable.
- Try to use environmentally friendly transport, such as bicycles, electric bikes or horse-drawn carts in the park.
- Help the local economy - purchase Cambodian-made products.
- Patronize businesses that support culture / heritage, look for the Heritage Friendly logo.
