The Chief Minister of Perak Darul Ridzuan, Dato’ Seri Saarani Mohamad, has revealed exciting news in conjunction with Visit Perak 2024 (VPY2024). Perak anticipates a substantial influx of tourists, with an estimated 8 million domestic visitors and 325,000 foreign visitors expected to explore the region. This surge in tourism is predicted to generate an impressive revenue of RM10 billion.
Saarani emphasised that Perak has experienced a remarkable surge in tourist arrivals, positioning it as the second-highest in the country. The number of tourists visiting the region has skyrocketed from a mere 1.35 million in 2021 to an impressive 6.9 million, showcasing a substantial increase.
“This achievement positions Perak in second place, just after Pahang, which received 7.8 million domestic tourists last year,” he stated during his speech at the Official Launching Ceremony of VPY2024, which took placed at NU Sentral, Kuala Lumpur.
The realistic target set for Perak is attributed to the diverse range of tourism offerings it provides, solidifying its reputation as a preferred destination for future tourists. In order to achieve this ambitious goal, Saarani emphasised the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders and the development of new tourism products within the state.
During the Official Launching Ceremony of VPY2024 at Centrecourt, NU Sentral in Kuala Lumpur, Saarani also highlighted an upcoming infrastructure project. He mentioned the forthcoming 233-kilometer highway that will connect Banting, Selangor, to South Taiping in Perak. This development is expected to facilitate increased tourist visits from outside the state, further bolstering Perak’s tourism industry.
“The opening of the West Coast Expressway (WCE) expected at the end of this year will serve as another major gateway for tourists entering Perak. Starting from Hutan Melintang, this highway route will take you through various exits in Perak, including Teluk Intan, famous for the Leaning Tower; Lekir, Sitiawan, and Sitiawan Utara, the gateway to Pangkor Island.
“In Perak, the WCE connects to the final exit at South Taiping, directly linking with the North-South Expressway (PLUS) exit in Changkat Jering. This new highway will also provide access to other attractive tourist destinations along the coastal areas of Perak, including a shortcut to Bagan Datuk, which will experience a significant impact with the opening of the WCE,” Saarani added during the VPY2024 inauguration.
More than five thousand attendees had the opportunity to witness the grand VPY2024 event, which also featured the highly anticipated Perak Travel Fair 2.0. Spanning three days, from the start until July 16, 2023, this event showcased a wide array of tourism offerings.
A total of twenty-two entrepreneurs specialising in tourism products, six food entrepreneurs, and four craft entrepreneurs proudly displayed their distinctive and captivating offerings during the fair.
Among the esteemed attendees was the Chairman of the State Tourism, Industry, Investment, and Corridor Development Committee, Loh Sze Yee, who graced the event with their presence.
Rationale Behind the Visit Perak Year 2024 Logo
For more information on the programmes and events during Visit Perak 2024, please visit the official Tourism Perak website at www.tourismperakmalaysia.com.