Perak seeks bigger share of Singapore tourist dollar

The Malaysian state of Perak wants to tap the growing number of Singapore visitors to the country by working with travel agents to develop packages and organising fam trips. Tourism Malaysia's Singapore director Zalizam Zakaria said: "About 98.8 per cent of the visitors to Perak are FITs, so we are increasing advertising efforts and working closely with travel agents to produce packages." Zalizam said the NTO would give more attention to Perak next year. "With 2012 being Visit Perak Year, this will be the first time Tourism Malaysia will actively promote Perak to Singapore tourists." 

A new heritage trail covering the southern portion of Perak’s capital Ipoh was launched at the Perak Seminar & Travel Mart last week. Other measures previously rolled out include free weekly guided tours and more direct flights via low-cost carrier Firefly. Perak state executive councilor and tourism committee head Datuk Hamidah Osman said: "Even though the infrastructure and products are already there, Perak is still not as popular as other Malaysian states. We just need to highlight information about the different places to go and where to eat." Tourist arrivals from Singapore to Malaysia grew by 15 per cent to 12.7 million in 2009.

-TTG Asia.