ARAU, March 4 (Bernama) — The East Wind Festival 2023 (PAT 2023) here is capable of helping to rejuvenate the economy, especially the tourism sector, which had been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC).
MOTAC secretary-general Datuk Saraya Arbi said the ministry was actively implementing various initiatives in Perlis to boost the state’s tourism sector.
“Among the efforts taken in Perlis is upgrading ecotourism attractions to give more space and business opportunities for industry players.
“Arts and culture practitioners too can seize the opportunities arising from areas identified for ecotourism,’’ she said when visiting the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) booth at PAT 2023 in Kampung Sungai Padang here today.
The three-day PAT 2023 was jointly organised by MOTAC and the Perlis state government.
Among the activities featured at the annual event are traditional games like ‘tarik upih pokok pinang’ (traditional betel nut speed game) competitions, top-spinning contests, ‘kasut tempurung’ (walking on coconut shell) games, fishing competitions, and padi fields motocross competitions.
Saraya said the 2020 edition of PAT had attracted 127,160 visitors and generated a revenue of RM492,000.
This was an improvement over the 2019 figures of RM481,000 in revenue and 122,182 visitors, she said.
She said that in 2021, PAT2021@online, which was held virtually for two days, generated RM468,540 through telecommunications companies, with 82,200 online visitors, including from other countries.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency