SIEM REAP, Cambodia, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- Some 138 kite flyers from different provinces across Cambodia took part in an annual kite flying contest in Siem Reap province, the country's major tourist hub, on Friday.
Muon Sopheap, director of Siem Reap provincial Department of Culture and Fine Arts, said the three-day festival not only preserved the kite-flying tradition but also helped attract tourists to Siem Reap province.
"This festival is crucial to conserve the old-age tradition of kite flying, which is our intangible cultural heritage, and promote it to the younger generations," he said at the opening ceremony held at the location of the former Siem Reap International Airport.
It was the second consecutive year that Siem Reap province hosted the festival. At the event, kites in the forms of various animals and objects had been flown.
"It has not only created a joyful atmosphere for tourists, but also safeguarded and enhanced our national identity," Ly Sary, deputy governor of Siem Reap province, said.
The kite-flying tradition has existed in Cambodia for more than 2,000 years, and usually, farmers and rural children have played with kites during the annual season of rice harvests, according to history.
Situated in northwest Cambodia, Siem Reap is home to the UNESCO-listed Angkor Archaeological Park, which is the most popular tourist destination in the Southeast Asian country.
The ancient park received a total of 955,131 international visitors in 2025, earning a gross revenue of 44.7 million U.S. dollars from ticket sales, according to the state-owned Angkor Enterprise. ■