Perak Tourism Association (PTA), in collaboration with the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Perak Chapter, organised a two-day-one-night fun drive from Ipoh to Lumut in mid-October. The objective was to promote tourism in Perak.
Association President, Datuk Hj Mohd Odzman bin Abdul Kadir said that tourism was one of the economic pillars of Perak. Therefore, PTA was committed in supporting the state government’s effort in enhancing the tourism industry.
Thus the “Get to Know Perak Fun Drive” served as a platform to highlight the yet unexplored-driving tours in Perak. After all, according to a Nielsen Global Survey of Automotive Demand in 2014, car ownership in Malaysia is one of the world’s highest at 93 per cent.
“Perak has one of the best road networks in the country. Most tourist destinations are road-connected; visitors are able to drive to Perak with ease from all parts of the peninsula. In addition, there are two other entry points from the north coming from Bentong, Thailand to Pengkalan Hulu, and from the east from Cameron Highlands to Simpang Pulai,” said Odzman.
MAH Perak Chapter Chairperson, Maggie Ong added, “Besides learning about new tourist destinations, we rediscovered older attractions. Personally, I am delighted to be reacquainted with interesting tourism products along the route, as I’ve been too used to plying the North–South Expressway over the years.”
Participation in “Get to Know Perak Fun Drive” was by invitation only with representation from the hospitality and tourism industries, as well as state government officials and members of the press.
The convoy consisted of four superbikes and 36 cars, totalling 160 participants in all. The two-day event, commencing Monday, October 15 and ending Tuesday, October 16, covered Ipoh, Kuala Kangsar, Taiping, Lumut and Pangkor.
Feedback from stakeholders and data gleaned from the event will be annotated in a report for reference by the state government in relation to the underdeveloped driving tour sector.
Rosli Mansor
