A VPY 2024 sign to welcome visitors at the Ipoh Railway Station. — Photos: RONNIE CHIN and ANNABELLE LAWRENCE/The Star
OVER eight million tourists visited Perak last year, making the Visit Perak Year 2024 (VPY 2024) campaign a resounding success.
The state government hoped to get eight million visitors, and had already welcomed 8.4 million by November.
“The campaign has not only met, but exceeded its ambitious target,” said Loh Sze Yee.
“This achievement not only highlights the success of the campaign, but also stands as a testament to the dedication and hard work of all involved in establishing Perak as one of Malaysia’s premier travel destinations,” he said.
The Perak tourism committee chairman added that VPY 2024 had solidified the state’s status as a top-tier travel destination.
Taiping Lake Garden with its iconic raintrees is a vital attraction in the historical Taiping town.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad disclosed the figure during the campaign’s finale and New Year’s Eve celebration at the Sultan Azlan Shah Roundabout in Meru Raya on Dec 31.
Quoting Tourism Malaysia statistics, Saarani had said 627,292 foreign tourists visited Perak in the first nine months of 2024.
Loh said statistics confirmed the state had recovered from the Covid-19 pandemic during which tourists arrivals were low.
“The pandemic temporarily dampened figures that dropped from seven million tourists in 2017 to just three million in 2021. Perak has since rebounded strongly in 2024.
“The number of foreign tourists visiting the state in 2024 increased by 135% compared to the 267,245 international tourists recorded in 2017,” he said, noting that the number of foreign tourists who visited Perak in 2023 was about 7.5 million.
Tourists are drawn to Concubine Lane for its variety of goods on sale and its cafes.
“This surge highlights the growing interest in Perak as an international travel destination,” he added.
VPY 2024 exceeded its ambitious target, says Loh.Loh said the data collected from local authorities showed Kinta as the top performing district, recording 2,755,915 visitors who were especially drawn to popular destinations of Ipoh and Batu Gajah.
“This is followed by Manjung with 2,077,771 visitors, who visited places like Lumut and Pangkor island.
“Next is district of Larut, Matang and Selama, which recorded 940,030 visitors, with the historical charm of Taiping continuing to captivate travellers,” he said.
Loh said about 105,000 tourists entered Perak through the Pengkalan Hulu land border, while the Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh recorded 63,974 arrivals.
Travellers are mainly from neighbouring countries such as Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam, he said, besides tourists from Australia, China and India.
“This robust influx from various entry points underscores Perak’s strategic location and the effectiveness of its marketing campaigns,” he added.
Post pandemic challenges
Loh highlighted that Perak drew more tourists than it did before the Covid-19 pandemic hit Malaysia.
Statistics confirmed that the state had not only recovered from the pandemic but had also surpassed the tourist figures, he said.
“Between January and September 2024, foreign hotel guests in Perak reached an impressive 627,292.”
He said post Covid-19 recovery was fraught with challenges, including a widespread fear of illness and reluctance to travel.
“This hesitation impacted not only travellers but also tourism- related businesses that struggled to regain pre-pandemic momentum. Addressing these concerns required a multifaceted approach.
The Sultan Azlan Shah Airport in Ipoh remains an important gateway for foreign tourists to holiday destinations in Perak.
“The #TravelPerakLah campaign played a crucial role in rebuilding confidence by showcasing the diverse and safe travel options available within Perak, reminding Malaysians of the unique experiences awaiting them in this state.
“The catchy slogan itself helped inspire and encourage locals to rediscover their state,” he added.
Loh said the 120 events, including high-profile international ones, held throughout last year had helped attract tourists to Perak.
Among them was the Rimba Raid Lenggong 2024, the first edition held in Perak following its legacy in Pahang, with participants from 26 countries.
“The Asia Triathlon Junior Cup in Kampar welcomed competitors from 24 countries while the Rainforest Challenge 2024 in Lenggong brought adventurers from 22 countries,” said Loh.
The last tin dredge in Tanjung Tulang near Batu Gajah is a major attraction in the Kinta district.
“We also had the Malaysia Ultra-Trail by UTMB 2024, a prestigious endurance race that showcased Perak’s scenic trails to participants from 62 countries.
“Other notable events included Kampar River Festival, Perak Tourism International Invitation Taekwondo Championship, Selama Rafting International Challenge and Malaysia International Marching Arts Championship, all of which drew participants from diverse regions.
“All these events have positioned Perak as a premier destination for adventure, sports and cultural tourism, reinforcing our reputation as a versatile and world-class tourist destination,” he added.
Boost for tourism industry
Tourism Perak made significant investments in reskilling and upskilling initiatives to strengthen the industry.
Loh said these efforts included training for hoteliers and tourism operators to ensure improved compliance with safety and service standards.
Cave temples like Sam Poh Tong also attract foreign tourists to Ipoh.
“For instance, programmes such as the basic first-aid course and the Safety Race Course (SRIC) were conducted to equip operators with the skills needed to better manage tours and activities requiring heightened safety measures,” he elaborated.
The state, he said, also participated in nationwide travel fairs and reintroduced travel vouchers, offering discounts on accommodations and attractions to encourage domestic tourism.
“These efforts collectively revitalised the state’s tourism sector and restored traveller confidence.”
Pangkor island is a top tourist destination.
He also said Perak was now actively preparing to elevate its appeal for the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign.
Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Perak chapter chairman Tony Wong said hotel bookings across the state increased by 10% to 15% during VPY 2024.
Hotels in key tourist hubs reported near full bookings during peak periods and holidays.
“The campaign saw substantial contributions from attractions like Pangkor island, Lost World of Tambun and Gopeng Glamping Park.
Lost World of Tambun water theme park in Ipoh is a favourite stop for locals and foreigners.
“The majority of tourists remain local travellers. However, efforts to draw international tourists are underway, aligning with the campaign’s goals,” he added.
Wong said the campaign successfully highlighted the state’s attractions and fostering sustainable tourism.
“The campaign has not only boosted tourism numbers but also emphasised conservation, as seen in promotions for the Royal Belum state park.
Nureen Batrisyia saw a 60% increase in sales last year for her gelato.“This campaign has demonstrated the potential of a well-coordinated tourism strategy, and there is optimism that the campaign will solidify Perak as a leading destination in Malaysia and beyond,” he said.
Good business ideas
Gelato seller Nureen Batrisyia Islarizal, 21, whose stall is in Lorong Panglima (more popularly known as Concubine Lane), saw a 60% increase in sales last year.
“Business has been good as there were tourists from other states and countries such as Germany.
“Most people come here (Ipoh) to have a long staycation because they want to explore Perak to see fun places and enjoy the food,” she said.
Nur Muliani says she sold 500 sandwiches a day during VPY 2024.Sandwich seller Nur Muliani Mohd Mustafa, 32, said she sold 500 sandwiches a day during the campaign compared to previous years when she sold only 300.
She also believed that sales would have been better if not for the rainy weather.
Biscuit shop supervisor Choong Hoi Fung, 27, said he had fewer customers among tourists since February last year due to the bad weather.
“Business was slow after the Chinese New Year.
“During weekends, we would usually have about 150 customers a day, but we had only about 60.”
Choong says bad weather last year affected sales a bit.Choong hoped local products would be promoted to attract more tourists in future Visit Perak Year tourism campaigns.
“We should promote locally made biscuits and food like Ipoh’s famous salted chicken.
“This could help attract more people and promote our businesses,” he added.
In contrast, heritage gallery manager Nabila Mohd, 32, said her premises saw a 10% increase in customers last year, most of whom were foreigners.
“As our premises was not listed in the Visit Perak Year campaign calendar; we sent our brochures to hotels. That’s how we got more tourists to visit our heritage trail.
“Visitors would spend hours here looking at the history and heritage of the former tin-mining town, while waiting for the rain to stop,” she said, calling for the state government to promote Ipoh’s history.
“There are still a lot of people who do not know what tin mining is about,” she noted.
Nabila also hoped that the authorities would resolve traffic woes and the lack of parking bays in Ipoh Old Town.
“Multi-storey carparks will really help the businesses here.
Zainol Abidin calls for building of public toilets for visitors’ comfort.“People would like to spend their time visiting the attractions here instead of getting stuck in traffic jams,” she added.
Zainol Abidin Abdul Rahman, 73, a souvenir shop owner, called for Perak authorities to build public toilets, based on feedback he received from tourists.
“Over the last six months, I have received over 100 complaints from tourists about this matter.
“Many said they did not mind paying a fee,” he said.
Zainol Abidin stressed that public toilets should be considered a necessity in a major tourism spot.
