Smoking prohibited at Cambodia's Angkor heritage site complex

PHNOM PENH, June 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has begun banning tourists from smoking cigarettes while they are visiting the inside complex of the Angkor Archaeological Park, one of the world heritage sites, officials said Thursday.
"We have informed our staff and tour guides to inform visitors not to smoke while they are exploring the temples," Sok Leakna, deputy director general of Apsara Authority, which is the body in charge of protection and management of the Angkor Archaeological Park, told Xinhua over telephone.
With the prohibition, the temples will be smoke-free and cleaned from cigarette ashes, he said, adding that non-smoking visitors will not be affected.
Sok Leakna said as the ban has just introduced, so there is no plan to fine the violators.
"Smoke banning at the temples is very good to prevent the temples from smoke and cigarette ashes," Minister of Tourism Thong Khon told Xinhua over telephone, adding that about 5,000 foreign tourists visit the temples everyday and the number is forecast to double in 2020.
"It will not pollute nonsmokers," he said.
Siem Reap's Angkor Archeological Park is the country's largest cultural tourism destination. It is located some 315 kilometers northwest of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia.
An entrance fee to visit the temples is 20 U.S. dollars a day for a foreign visitor, 40 U.S. dollars for a three-day visit and 60 U.S. dollars for a week-long visit.
Last year, the temples attracted 1.6 million foreign visitors, an increase of 23 percent.