Perak: Perak is aiming to attract tourists from Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, and southern China, in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026). State Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee chairman Loh Sze Yee said these countries have been identified as primary targets considering factors such as distance, ease of access and the ability of local industry players to adapt to the expectations of regional tourists.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, as a state with strong domestic tourism, Perak also requires the presence of tourists from neighbouring countries. Loh highlighted that Thailand is a market they have been engaging with for several years, frequently receiving familiarisation trips from tourism players there. Since last year, the state has also been actively organising fam trips for Indonesia, making it a natural extension for the overseas market. Singapore is also a key target as it hosts Perak's only international flight. Tourists from the northern part of China are unlikely to visit, so the focus remains on the southern region.
Loh emphasized the importance of enhancing facilities such as comfortable, safe, and clean accommodation and encouraged tourism operators to expand nighttime activities. In Ipoh old town, there are many caf©s run by young entrepreneurs offering various menus and creating gathering spaces. Additionally, there are plans to introduce activities like river excursions, village, and forest explorations to fill the hours from after dinner until bedtime.
Besides its strength in nature-based tourism, Perak is also developing wellness tourism to attract more tourists. Today's programme celebrated the appointment and official introduction of the new Tourism Perak chief executive officer, Suhaimi Abu Hassan Shari. During the networking session, Tourism Perak outlined its new strategic direction under the new leadership and provided a platform for two-way interaction between the management and industry players to exchange views, share input, and identify collaboration opportunities for Perak tourism products.