PERAK has become the first state to introduce the bibliotourism concept in its public libraries in a bid to attract more domestic and foreign visitors and boost its tourism industry.

Perak State Public Library Corporation (PPANPk) director Rafidah Abdul Aziz said the Kuala Kangsar and Taiping public libraries had been chosen as locations to launch the concept.

“Bibliotourism combines travelling and the love for libraries in which tourists will make libraries their source of reference and guide through books and other information available.

“The Kuala Kangsar and Taiping libraries were chosen because both locations are rich in historical value and are among the top destinations for domestic and foreign tourists,” she told a press conference after the closing ceremony of the Libraries Unite Us@PPANPk programme in Ipoh today.

State Tourism, Industry, Investment and Corridor Development Committee chairman Loh Sze Yee officiated the closing ceremony, which was attended by 300 students from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Puncak Perdana Campus, Shah Alam.

Elaborating, Rafidah said the Kuala Kangsar library started the bibliotourism concept early this month through the ‘Kuala Kangsar, Attractions of the Royal Town’ exhibition, jointly organised with Areca Books, which will run from January 3 to 17.

As for the Taiping library, it is still being upgraded and is expected to open its doors to visitors by the middle of this year, she added.

She added that efforts to realise the concept were supported by Tourism Perak, the Department of National Heritage and the Department of Museums Malaysia.

“This is to ensure all materials provided at the libraries can help visitors obtain authentic and complete information,” she said. – Bernama, January 14, 2023.