By Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: Perak recorded an increase in domestic tourists staying overnight in the state to 10.4 million in 2025, compared with 10.2 million the previous year, while international tourist arrivals reached 944,578.
Perak Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee chairman Loh Sze Yee said the growth showed the state’s tourism sector continued to have strong potential through enhancing existing products and developing new attractions.
He said the state government would continue to focus on established tourism products by upgrading facilities, infrastructure, signage and directional signboards.
“At the same time, the state government, through the Tourism Exco office, State Economic Planning Unit (UPEN) and Local Government Division (BKT), works closely with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC) to secure various allocations,” he said during the Second Meeting of the Fourth Session of the 15th Perak State Legislative Assembly here today.
Tourism Perak, the state’s tourism marketing agency, also conducts various programmes, including digital marketing training, industry engagement sessions, domestic and overseas promotional activities as well as familiarisation trips (FAM trips).
Loh said the state government was also focusing on developing new tourism products, both physical attractions and events, to strengthen the sector in the future.
Several events held this year as proof of concept received encouraging response, including Pesta Panjut in Kuala Kangsar, Chinese New Year @ Riverfront, PreRaya @ Riverfront and the inaugural MATTA Connect, which brought together more than 200 company representatives from 27 countries.
The Pesta Kopi @ Riverfront, held in collaboration with Astro from Sept 10 to 13, is also among the new events being introduced.
“Events that have proven popular will be retained, enhanced and scaled up next year.
“Perak will not rest on its current and past achievements but will continue planning new strategies to strengthen the state’s tourism sector,” he said.
Plans include promoting Taiping in the Larut, Matang and Selama districts as an air sports hub, while positioning Kuala Kangsar as a Royal Town of Cultural Heritage.
“Lenggong, which recently received UNESCO Global Geopark recognition, will also receive greater focus, while Royal Belum State Park is set to have a world-class sustainable green resort.
“Meanwhile, the KD Hang Tuah vessel in Lumut will be developed into a museum by MB Inc,” he said.
