Supercars Parade at Angkor Wat Sparks Controversy and Curiosity | SEE PICS

A striking parade of luxury vehicles including Rolls-Royces, Ferraris, and Lamborghinis graced the centuries-old Angkor Wat temples on Tuesday, despite stringent regulations against revving their supercharged engines. This unusual event was organized to promote the environmentally sensitive UNESCO World Heritage site, renowned for its stunning ruins of the Khmer empire's greatest monuments nestled amid lush forests and giant trees.

Tourism remains a critical sector for Cambodia, which saw visitor numbers plummet from around 6.6 million annually before the Covid-19 pandemic to fewer than 200,000 in 2021. Although tourism rebounded to nearly 5.5 million visitors last year, generating over $3 billion in revenue, figures still lag behind pre-pandemic levels.

Cambodia's Tourism Minister, Sok Soken, defended the event amidst criticism of its apparent incongruity with the site's heritage. Speaking near a Bugatti Chiron — some models of which are priced above $3 million — he stated, “The display of cars is an art of technology, an inclusion of technology and a modern way of travelling,” adding that Cambodia is “ready to provide hospitality to all forms of travellers.” He emphasized that strict guidelines were in place to prevent any disrespect to the heritage site, specifically banning engine revving.

Organized by Gumball 3000, a British lifestyle brand, the event aimed to set a record for the largest collection of supercars and hypercars at a World Heritage site, though it fell short of this goal. Despite this, the display attracted significant attention from both locals and tourists, who took advantage of the rare opportunity to photograph and selfie alongside these high-end vehicles.

University student Kuy Tola, 19, reflected on the spectacle, stating, “This is the first time I have seen such modern cars at Angkor Wat. It is amazing.”