HOME > AFP-JIJI PRESS NEWS JOURNAL > Article
Supercars line up at Cambodia's Angkor Wat temples
The centuries-old temples of Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat played host to a parade of Rolls-Royces, Ferraris and Lamborghinis Tuesday, although drivers were banned from revving their supercharged engines.
The event was intended to promote the environmentally sensitive UNESCO-listed World Heritage site, where the ruins of the Khmer empire's greatest monuments are surrounded by lush forests and giant trees.
Tourism is vital to the Southeast Asian country and received around 6.6 million visitors a year before the Covid-19 pandemic, when numbers nosedived to below 200,000 in 2021.
Visitors rebounded to nearly 5.5 million last year, netting more than $3 billion in revenue, but remained below pre-pandemic levels.
Asked about the apparently incongruous nature of the occasion, Cambodia's tourism minister Sok Soken told AFP that strict guidelines had been imposed, with engine-revving banned in terms of disrespect to our heritage here.
He spoke a few metres away from a Bugatti Chiron, some models of which reportedly have list prices of more than $3 million.
The display of cars is an art of technology, an inclusion of technology and a modern way of travelling, he said, adding Cambodia will be ready to provide hospitality to all forms of travellers.
An attempt by organisers Gumball 3000, a British lifestyle brand, to set a record for the number of supercars and hypercars at a World Heritage site fell short.
However, the vehicles saw high traffic from locals and tourists taking pictures and selfies.
This is the first time I have seen such modern cars at Angkor Wat, said university student Kuy Tola, 19. It is amazing.
(2024/10/02 18:17)
Click Here for Japanese TranslationAFP-JIJI PRESS NEWS JOURNAL
- 10/09 21:59 Gilded canopy restored at Vatican basilica
- 10/09 21:53 Pyongyang to 'permanently' shut border with South Korea
- 10/09 21:45 Nepali becomes youngest to climb world's 8,000m peaks
- 10/09 17:38 Jurgen Klopp to return as head of Red Bull football operations
- 10/09 17:03 Syria says seven civilians killed in Israel Damascus strike
- 10/09 17:00 Osama bin Laden's son Omar banned from returning to France
- 10/08 20:26 Australia moves to expand Antarctic marine park
- 10/08 18:23 Musk says he is 'all in' on Trump in US election
- 10/08 18:21 Tampa zoo rushes Chompers the porcupine and others to safety as Milton nears
- 10/08 18:08 Harris-- 'Of course' I've fired my Glock
- 10/08 18:06 Barca hoping to return to Camp Nou 'by end of year'
- 10/08 17:02 Trump-- immigrants bringing 'bad genes' into US
- 10/07 17:13 Rescuers say 17 dead in Gaza as Israel troops encircle Jabaliya
- 10/07 17:10 Family affair as LeBron, Bronny James make Lakers bow
- 10/07 17:06 In France's Marseille, teen 'stabbed 50 times' then burned alive
- 10/07 17:03 Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- 10/07 17:00 Haiti reeling after 70 killed in gang attack
- 10/07 16:55 India asks top court to heed marital rape leniency
- 10/04 19:25 Scientists unlock secret of 'Girl With Pearl Earring'
- 10/04 19:22 Sinner not 'comfortable' as doping case clouds Shanghai campaign
- 10/04 19:19 Dolphins flash friendly grins when they're ready to play
- 10/04 19:18 Milan's Morata moves house after Inter-fan town mayor 'violates' privacy
- 10/04 19:16 North Korea's Kim threatens to use nukes if attacked
- 10/04 16:53 'Devastating' storm hits Augusta National but Masters will go on
- 10/03 19:32 Paris Olympics sports equipment moves to new homes
- 10/03 19:29 'Heartbreaking'-- Biden, Harris tour storm areas as deaths surpass 160
- 10/03 19:28 Deadly Israeli strike on central Beirut after soldiers killed
- 10/03 19:26 NBA legend Jordan files anti-trust lawsuit against NASCAR
- 10/03 19:25 South America treated to rare 'ring of fire' eclipse
- 10/03 19:24 Hamas claims Tel Aviv shooting attack that killed seven
- 10/02 19:06 Gaza children 'extremely impacted' by war-- UNICEF
- 10/02 19:03 Sheinbaum takes office as Mexico's first woman president
- 10/02 18:19 US VP rivals defend Trump and Harris in polite debate
- 10/02 18:17 Supercars line up at Cambodia's Angkor Wat temples
- 10/02 16:50 China's Xi tells Putin ready to 'expand' ties-- state media
- 10/02 16:50 Former US president Jimmy Carter turns 100
- 10/01 21:02 Brazilians choke as fire smoke blankets 80% of country
- 10/01 20:58 LeBron James 'given life' by playing with son, Olympic gold
- 10/01 20:55 Israel defies a nervous Biden administration
- 10/01 16:47 With 118 dead from Hurricane Helene, Biden defends US government response
- 10/01 16:43 Renault to end Formula One engine production from 2026
- 10/01 16:42 Russia plans sharp defence spending hike in 2025
- 09/30 19:52 Trumping Churchill, and who's 'Tom' Walz?-- an offbeat campaign week
- 09/30 19:49 Country star, actor Kris Kristofferson dead at 88
- 09/30 17:05 Alcaraz sympathises with rival Sinner over steroid case
- 09/30 17:03 Death toll soars in US from storm Helene, North Carolina reeling
- 09/30 17:02 Trump launches into 'dark speech' on illegal immigration
- 09/30 17:00 New Zealand breaks world record for largest mass haka