Eight Tourism Icons Set By Perak Government For Taiping

IPOH, Aug 13 (Bernama) -- The Perak state government plans to place eight tourism icons in Taiping to attract tourists from different backgrounds and interests. Perak Health, Tourism and Cultural Committee chairman Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi said it will enliven the heritage town which is rich with various tourist products.

The Taiping Zoo & Night Safari, Perak Museum, Taiping Lake Gardens, Taiping Heritage Town, Kuala Sepetang Eco Tourism, Dewa Fireflies, Bukit Gantang Homestay and Taiping sensational dishes are iconic tourism products in Taiping, she told Bernama recently.

"The Taiping heritage town comprises products such as the town itself and its history, the First Galleria and various heritage buildings which still exist and function until today. "Popular dishes in Taiping include food and drinks which have lured people to try them such as cendol, kuey teow doli, mee banjir udang, Restoran Asam Pedas, Antong White Coffee, popia basah and others," she said.

Nolee Ashilin said the First Galleria, which was previously known as the Sanitary Board, was an old building owned by the Taiping Municipal Council (MPT) and conserved as a galleria. She said the MPT has also turned the Lagenda Hotel Building which was once known as a rest house and the Public Works Department, into a boutique hotel.

"Other old buildings which have become symbols in the district are the Land Office, museum, prison military mess and old school buildings," she added.

Although the number of visitors has dropped this year, she said it was seen as temporary due to several factors, including Chinese New Year celebrations which fell in January.

"The MPT has actively carried out promotions in the following months and the result of this will be seen when the upgrade of three component products in the Taiping Zoo & Night Safari was completed, involving an expansion of the tram station, upgrading the Savana Africa exhibition as well as upgrades for the Sungai Perak elephant exhibition, by end of September," she said.
-bernama.