As many as 400 cyclists who participated in a cycling programme dubbed, “Bike Ride @ Padang Rengas 2014” got to enjoy the scenic countryside and visit unique tourism products along the four checkpoints stretching a 18 km route around Kuala Kangsar District.
The event, organised by Tourism Malaysia in collaboration with Kelab Roadrunners Ipoh and the Padang Rengas Parliamentary Service Centre, was to promote cycling as a platform to see touristic spots.
Dato’ Nolee Ashilin Mohammed Radzi, State Executive Councillor for Health, Tourism and Culture, said that leisure cycling along the countryside is not only healthy but an experience in itself.
“I hope industry players and tourism agencies can come up with cycling packages because they will be a hit with foreign visitors keen on familiarising themselves with the rural communities,” she told the media after flagging off the event in Padang Rengas recently.
The four checkpoints the cyclists had to stop at were the Lubuk Merbau Homestay, which is surrounded by paddy fields, the iron smith at Kampung Rambong, Kampong Tanah Merah where fermented fish (pekasam) is produced and a laksa factory in Kampung Paya.
Witnessing the flag-off were the Director of Tourism Malaysia (Perak), Ibrahim Seddiqi Talib, and the Director of Domestic Marketing Division Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Musa Yusof.
Those who took part were members of cycling clubs, officials from the state’s tourism agencies, tourism industry players and media practitioners. One of the cyclists, Nur Farhana Yahaya, 25, said the programme allowed her to see first-hand cottage industries that are being marketed commercially.
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