LENGGONG: There has been very little effort to promote archaeological sites in Lenggong Valley as a tourist spot and a World Heritage Site, say local guides.
A76 Lenggong Tourism Association chairman Asnan Mohd Yusof said there was a lot of expectation from the local business community when Lenggong Valley was first accorded the World Heritage status by Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) six years ago.
“There was a lot of expectation that it was going to boom for the better and uplift everyone’s lives.
“But nothing happened for several years and people became disappointed.
“And then, we got feedback from tourists that the infrastructure at the sites was falling apart and that some of the sites were difficult to access.
“We did bring the matter up to the authorities and the Lenggong District Council but all they kept saying was that they were facing jurisdiction and funding issues and their hands were tied,’’ he said.
Asnan said there was no effort to even put up a welcome signboard telling visitors that they were entering a Unesco World Heritage site.
“So, we decided to do it ourselves because sometimes, people don’t even know that they are entering a very special area.
“We needed something to inform them,’’ he said.
Andy Kong, founder of About Travel (M) Sdn Bhd based in Ipoh, said there was virtually no promotion or marketing carried out to promote Lenggong Valley by the state government.
“Sometimes, people ask us how to get there and what is special about the place but we don’t know what to say due to a lack of information.
“You have all these wonderful attractions, but no information on how to get there and who to contact.
“If you don’t promote the place, it will not boom,’’ added Kong.
IT assistant Meera Raj, who is from Kuala Lumpur, said she was interested in visiting Lenggong Valley when she was in Ipoh last month but was unable to find any information on the place.
“The local hotel where I stayed was promoting all the food joints and bars and other places in their bunting and brochures in the lobby.
“But there was nothing on Lenggong Valley,” she said.
A76 Lenggong Tourism Association chairman Asnan Mohd Yusof said there was a lot of expectation from the local business community when Lenggong Valley was first accorded the World Heritage status by Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) six years ago.
“There was a lot of expectation that it was going to boom for the better and uplift everyone’s lives.
“But nothing happened for several years and people became disappointed.
“And then, we got feedback from tourists that the infrastructure at the sites was falling apart and that some of the sites were difficult to access.
“We did bring the matter up to the authorities and the Lenggong District Council but all they kept saying was that they were facing jurisdiction and funding issues and their hands were tied,’’ he said.
Asnan said there was no effort to even put up a welcome signboard telling visitors that they were entering a Unesco World Heritage site.
“So, we decided to do it ourselves because sometimes, people don’t even know that they are entering a very special area.
“We needed something to inform them,’’ he said.
Andy Kong, founder of About Travel (M) Sdn Bhd based in Ipoh, said there was virtually no promotion or marketing carried out to promote Lenggong Valley by the state government.
“Sometimes, people ask us how to get there and what is special about the place but we don’t know what to say due to a lack of information.
“You have all these wonderful attractions, but no information on how to get there and who to contact.
“If you don’t promote the place, it will not boom,’’ added Kong.
IT assistant Meera Raj, who is from Kuala Lumpur, said she was interested in visiting Lenggong Valley when she was in Ipoh last month but was unable to find any information on the place.
“The local hotel where I stayed was promoting all the food joints and bars and other places in their bunting and brochures in the lobby.
“But there was nothing on Lenggong Valley,” she said.
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