Malaysia's Perak Gov't Optimistic Of Attracting 9 Million Tourists Next Year

TAIPING (Perak, Malaysia), Aug 3 (Bernama) -- The Perak government is optimistic of attracting nine million local and foreign tourists next year in conjunction with its Visit Perak Year campaign. Tourism Perak director Ibrahim Seddiqi Talib said the confidence was due to the fact that the state was now equipped with 10 tourism icons as well as over 3,000 hotels and chalets with 15,000 rooms which could provide comfort to its tourists. In fact, Perak has various tourism products such as Orang Utan Island, Kuala Sepetang Mangrove Forest, Royal Belum Forest, Taiping Zoo and Night Safari, Kellie's Castle, Gua Tempurung and Felda Residence Hot Springs, he said. "We believe the influx of tourists will have an impact to the state's economy, in addition to providing employment opportunity to the locals," he told reporters after the 'Teh Tarik' (hot milk tea beverage) and mingling session with over 100 industry players including homestay owners here, Wednesday. Ibrahim Seddiqi said the Perak government was targeting to attract eight million local and foreign tourists to the state this year. He said such a target could be achieved when Asia's first animation park, Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS) would open its door to the public by year-end. "MAPS which is located in Meru township offers 1,000 job opportunities to the people in this state and it will be a new tourist attraction," he said. -- BERNAMA