Taiping: The Taiping Air Festival 2.0 (FUT 2.0) which will take place from July 31 to August 3 at Tekah Airport, Taiping is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors from home and abroad, making it one of the biggest air festivals this year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, project director Captain Syafiq Bahri stated that FUT 2.0 is a continuation of the success of the inaugural edition in 2024, which has opened a new chapter in efforts to introduce Taiping as a tourism destination based on international aviation and aerial recreation technology. Based on last year's success of gathering over 10,000 visitors, he anticipates FUT 2.0 to surpass that figure by organizing on a larger scale and involving government agencies, local communities, and industry players.
Syafiq highlighted that FUT 2.0 aligns with the goals of Perak Sejahtera 2030 and the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign, making it a high-impact event in the country's tourism calendar. The festival aims to provide early exposure to youths, especially school students, on careers in the aviation industry through educational content such as career talks, interactive activities, and flight simulations. More than 500 students are expected to attend sessions featuring speakers in the fields of engineering and pilot services. Activities like paper airplane building competitions and drawing and coloring with the concept of the world of air are also planned for them.
Additionally, the festival will offer students a unique opportunity through joyrides using two types of aircraft, namely the Microlight and Cessna 172, allowing them to experience flying in Taiping airspace. Visitors will also have the chance to witness an exhibition of various aircraft types involving nine to ten models, including the Viper, Cessna Caravan, Cessna 172, Mooney, Gyrocopter, and several other light aircraft used in training, recreational, and professional sectors.
Syafiq also mentioned the festival's role in providing an opportunity for over 100 local entrepreneurs, comprising small and medium enterprises (SMEs), to generate income through the sale of food and beverages and clothing. With the active involvement of various parties and the expected warm reception, FUT 2.0 is believed to be a catalyst for the growth of the country's aero-industrial ecosystem and aims to make Taiping a leading technical and historical tourism icon in Malaysia.