THE internationally acclaimed Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival will see the participation of 225 participants from 34 countries in its 17th series this year.

State Tourism and Domestic Trade committee chairman Hoo Seong Chang said the annual event has recorded more participants compared to last year, with representatives from three new countries.

"Nepal, Curacao and South Africa are new contenders in the festival and many more countries have shown their interest in joining the event in the future," he told reporters after launching the 17th Pasir Gudang World Kite Festival, officiated by the Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim. !He said the five-day festival, which began last Wednesday, was also participated by New Zealand, Kuwait, Lebanon, India, Japan and China which sent the highest number of participants with 45 people.

Besides international contestants, the competition also boasts locals from 110 teams with 557 participants in the national, school and corporate categories.

These corporate organisations include the Johor Port Authority, Johor Corporation, KFC Holdings (Malaysia) Berhad, Johor Land Berhad and the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA).

"This year's theme, '1Langit 1Budaya' (1Sky 1Culture), highlights kite flying as an activity enjoyed by people around the world through a shared culture."

"Kites are flown up in the same sky with creativity based on the identity and culture of the respective countries they come from," he added.

Meanwhile, Hoo said the state government will discuss with the Pasir Gudang Municipal Council on holding the festival during a different month next year. Bernama