PERAK was in talks with several airlines to raise the number of direct flights from Asean nations to Ipoh as part of “Visit Perak Year 2024”, said Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad.

He said the move could attract more foreign tourists to Perak, pending approval from the Transport Ministry.

“The routes are from Singapore to Ipoh and from Senai to Ipoh. Therefore, as part of Visit Perak Year, we have been in talks with several airline companies due to the evident rise in tourist demand.

“It will allow tourists to fly directly to Ipoh without having to transit through KLIA,” he said at a press conference after officiating the Youth Friendly Carnival at Indera Mulia Stadium today.

Earlier, Saarani said the Perak government aimed to attract eight million domestic tourists and 350,000 international tourists, with an expected economic impact of RM10 billion in the tourism sector.

Saarani said the state government allocated RM7 million to Tourism Perak to assist entrepreneurs throughout the state to upgrade and improve facilities for tourists.

He said the allocation was being used to restore the Pasir Salak Historical Complex, a key tourism attraction since 1990. – Bernama, September 17, 2023.