People around the world will soon be able to go online and view close-up pictures of Phnom Penh’s streets and the temples of Angkor Wat, Google representatives announced in Phnom Penh yesterday.

Google Street View is using cars with special 360-degree panoramic cameras to collect the imagery. Starting in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap’s Angkor Archaeological Park, the company will then fan out across the country.

Google and government officials said they believe the launch will contribute to showcasing Cambodian culture while raising awareness for the country as an attractive destination for visitors.

“By making the photos available online, people will realise Cambodia’s potential more easily,” Pak Sokhom, undersecretary of state of the Ministry of Tourism, said yesterday. “After seeing the images, they will dream about a real visit.”

Once the images are available – the project will take a few months – the user can explore an area from a 360-degree, street-level view.

Cooperating with the Apsara Authority, which manages Angkor Wat, Google can capture the imagery of Angkor Archaeological Park free of charge for six months starting in August.

Google has developed technology that blurs human faces and vehicle number plates to render them unidentifiable.