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Two travel stories on Angkor

Over the weekend newspapers from Malaysia and the Philippines featured travel stories on Angkor.

photo credit: [...]

Angkor sees 23% increase in visitors in 2011

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The Siem Reap Tourist Department reports a 23% increase in foreign visitors to Angkor, with [...]

Banteay Chmar starting to see tourists again

A feature on the massive temple of Banteay Chmar in Banteay Meanchay province, not far from the Thai-Cambodian border. The site is starting to see visitors again, but it’s sculptures have been looted – including a pair that’s said to be in the garden of a Thai politician!

Another Great Cambodian Temple Stirs To Life [...]

Study of palaeoenvironment from West Baray shows drought at time of Angkor's collapse

A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences shed light on environmental factors that contributed to the collapse of Angkor in the 14th century. Periods of drought were inferred from a palaeoenvironmental study of the West Baray spanning 1,000 years, revealing a large amount of sedimentation (and thus water input) [...]

Crackdown on disrespectful souvenirs at Angkor

The authorities have cracked down on souvenirs sold in Angkor that are thought to be disrespectful, including Angkor Wat shaped ashtrays. The headline of the article suggests that smoking may have also been banned in the park, but no mention was made of it in the body. Can anyone confirm?

No smoking in, or on, [...]

Archaeologists excavate sculpture workshop in Angkor

The remains of a sculpture workshop has been discovered in near the Bakong in Angkor, giving insight to the tools and methods used in building the sculptures and monuments of Angkor. (Thanks to Dr Martin Polkinghorne for the heads up)

photo credit: Olga Oslina

Questions and answers at dig Phnom Penh Post, 08 December [...]

Tourist limits on Angkor are 'long overdue'

I’ve featured a number of number of similar stories like this on the increasing numbers of tourists visiting Angkor. It’s interesting to note that five years ago, the annual number of visitors was like 600,000. This year’s count is expected to be 2.5 million.

Cambodia’s ancient wonders suffer modern ills AP, via Forbes.com, 12 July [...]

Vittorio Roveda feature

The Bangkok Post has a feature article on Dr Vittorio Roveda, who has written several books on the art of the Khmers and Angkor.

Vittorio Reveda – Bangkok Post 20110630

A scientist’s second act Bangkok Post, 30 June 2011

[...]

Asia's heritage sites strain under the weight of tourism

Tourism to ancient heritage sites is a major source of income for many Asian nations, but the signs of wear and tear to the monuments are fast becoming visible.

photo credit: bob|P-&-S

Tourist Boom Puts Asia’s Treasures at Risk AFP, via Jakarta Globe, 08 March 2011

[...]

Angkor in environmental management audit

The Angkor Archaeological Park and its custodians the Apsara Authority will undergo an audit to keep their environmental management certification, a task made challenging due to the rapid rate of development that has transformed Siem Reap into a booming tourist town over the past decade. photo credit: NYC-MetroCard

Angkor Wat to face audit Phnom Penh [...]