PHNOM PENH, June 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Tourists will be soon asked to wear special shoes to climb the Angkor temple's stairs in order to protect Angkor Wat from further damage.

    The news was announced Sunday by Cambodia's Apsara Authority, which manages the Angkor Archaeological Park, according to The Cambodia Daily on Monday.

    "We are preparing this project," Tep Henn, Apsara Authority deputy director-general in charge of tourism, was quoted as saying. But he did not say when the program would begin or how much they would cost visitors.

    Bun Narith, the authority's director general, confirmed the project but said further studies were still necessary.

    A contract to make the shoes had already been awarded to a company.

    Angkor temples, located more than 300 km north of Phnom Penh, is a world heritage site. The ancient temples are also a symbol of Cambodian national pride and the country's biggest tourist attraction. Enditem