By Mariam Mokhtar
It is now mid-September 2011 and January 2012 is just
around the corner. For those who are unaware, 2012 is Visit Perak Year.
Some people may believe that Perak is geared up for this very important
year but are they being realistic? How many people are aware that 2012
is Visit Perak Year?
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| Kampung Dew Fireflies |
Questions, Questions and more Questions
Last July, the Ipoh Echo published a report which said
that the calendar of events would be ready by September. Why have the
authorities not engaged the general public to suggest ideas for events
or venues? What do the Perakians know about the events planned for 2012?
What has been the public’s participation in these?
How have the authorities presented the array of
activities, venues or special exhibitions to showcase Perak to the whole
world? The Ipoh Echo may be accessible locally and on-line but is this
enough?
Who is the target audience for tourism Perak – the foreigners or local (Malaysian) tourists? Is the approach for each different?
Advance Planning
Everyone knows that the preparation and the promotional
events for the Olympics are started well in advance and sponsorship
obtained years before the site is ready.
In the schools our children attend, the school diary is
prepared a year, or two, in advance; the schools know what events should
be included in the academic year and it has a rough idea of who it
plans to invite to give talks to the students.
Ideas from the People
Perak is not short of people who have interesting ideas.
Why is their creativity not being tapped? Why do we shy away from
engaging the wider public to participate in an event which will
ultimately benefit them?
Our youth know what is fun and would be enjoyed by their
peers. Perhaps competitions to create advertising slogans could be
organised in schools to tap these young minds. Perhaps the winning
entrant could be rewarded with a package holiday for him and a friend at
a 5-star resort of his choice, in Perak. This might be the chance to
promote the 3D2N package that was mentioned in the July 16 issue of Ipoh
Echo.
People flying by MAS into KLIA are normally treated to a
tourism Malaysia promotional advert on the monitors, prior to landing.
Why are they not told that it is Visit Perak Year in 2012? Where are the
flyers, or to save costs, a notice on their screens to inform them
about the event?
Why are Tourism Malaysia offices overseas not promoting
Perak at all? Many people book their holidays well in advance. Can’t we
at least tempt them now, so they can include Perak as a possible
destination?
We have a brilliant, direct bus service between KLIA and
Ipoh, which very few people know about. There should be billboards as
we arrive at KLIA showcasing Perak and telling them that they can go
direct to Perak on this bus service. KLIA has nothing to tell the
traveller about Perak.
Why can’t the authorities have adverts promoting Perak
painted on the outside of buses and coaches outside of Perak? It is
those people outside the state we need to entice.
In the run-up to the Royal Wedding of Prince William and
Kate Middleton, the London Underground printed a photo of the royal
couple on the reverse of the Oyster tickets. Millions of people bought
these tickets, which would otherwise be free, to keep as souvenirs of
the event. Perhaps transit passengers, who land in KLIA, on their way to
Australia and beyond, could be given transit boarding passes with Visit
Perak on the reverse?
In-House Preparation
The most important preparation we should make is
in-house. It has to do with cleanliness, hygiene and communication.
There is little headway with filth and litter. Our streets are dirty and
our drains support more plant growth than is found in some of our
gardens. The smells from rotting food waste and the vermin that thrive
on waste, lie beside some of our best food stalls. Where are the health
inspectors and why is there a lack of enforcement?
If we are really serious about welcoming these visitors,
we need to improve our cleanliness. Impose a heavy fine on those who
litter indiscriminately and close down the establishments which
continually break the rules. Perhaps the people in charge have different
standards of hygiene or have a higher tolerance of filth.
As always, our local government seems to do things in fits and
starts, it shows enthusiasm only when a minister or exco member shows
interest. Communication and education within our community is poor. It
is time we addressed this common failing.
THE Perak Tourism Committee is banking on the power of wheels to promote Visit Perak Year 2012 (VPY). Its
chairman Datuk Hamidah Osman said the state would collaborate with
local radio station, Perak FM, to send out a convoy to circle the
country to promote VPY. “We will first target states surrounding
Perak, namely Penang, Kedah and Selangor, before expanding our coverage
to other areas,” she said. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Hamidah said state secretariat buses would also have tourism banners to promote VPY.
“We
are going on an aggressive campaign to draw tourists to Perak. We have
set aside RM2mil to promote VPY this year and the amount will most
probably be doubled next year,” she added.
Hamidah added that 17
billboards would be erected along highways and at the KL International
Airport, Low Cost Carrier Terminal and KL Sentral to promote VPY.
“Advertisements
would also be placed in travel magazines,” she said, adding that the
state would hold the soft launch for the event at Dataran Ipoh tomorrow
at 8pm.
Hamidah added that Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir would launch the VPY official logo at the event.
On
a separate matter, she said an Ipoh-based bus company had agreed to
offer transport services between Ipoh and the Royal Belum forest
reserve.
“All this while, we have been facing transportation
problems to take people to the natural attraction. This offer by the
company is timely and we are confident it will help us attract more
visitors,” she said.
Assalamualaikum Cikgu Ayu, 
1. Lawatan menyusuri sungai menaiki bot 1 jam
Kumpulan 2
6. Muzium Ngah Ibrahim 30 min
Bagi minum pagi jam 10 harap pihak sekolah dapat menyediakan sekurang-kurangnya roti dan air minuman.
