ARAU – The organisation of the Perlis East Wind Festival 2024 (PAT 2024), which began yesterday and lasts for three days in Kampung Lat Seribu, Tambun Tulang near here, is believed to boost the state’s tourism industry in promoting the Visit Perlis Year 2024-2025 campaign.
Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli said PAT 2024 is among the main activities scheduled for the Visit Perlis campaign.
“The Perlis East Wind Festival 2024 this time has a uniqueness in its organisation, with the implementation of a digital system. Additionally, new elements or activities have also been introduced,” he said during the opening speech held here today.
Also present were the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) secretary-general Datuk Roslan Tan Sri Abdul Rahman and Perlis National Culture and Arts Department (JKKN) director Norazlin Nordin.
For the record, PAT 2024 is the 12th edition of the festival and is organised by Motac in collaboration with the Perlis government.
Meanwhile, Mohd Shukri said Perlis recorded 4.2 million tourist arrivals last year compared to 2.9 million the previous year, and was optimistic that the target of 3.5 million tourist arrivals in 2024 for the Visit Perlis campaign could be realised.
“The organisation of events like the East Wind Festival is an effort by the government to open up more opportunities for arts and culture and tourism industry players, especially in the state of Perlis to highlight the products and identity of arts and culture at a higher level,” he said.
Speaking to reporters after officiating PAT 2024, Mohd Shukri said the Motac secretary-general had mentioned that the festival had the potential to be brought to the international level.
“InsyaAllah, we will try to discuss it again. JKKN and the ministry will sit down together to discuss and bring it to the international level,” he said.
The largest ‘garam belacan’ (shrimp paste) making activity involving 1,000 people of various races that took place today has been recognised in The Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR). – March 2, 2024