IPOH: The tourism industry in Ipoh has flourished post Covid-19 pandemic, according to Datuk Rumaizi Baharin.
The Ipoh mayor noted that the city is becoming a more recognisable tourism destination, attracting visitors from around the world.
"When Covid-19 occurred in 2020, we had no strong support, and the tourism industry collapsed.
"We rebounded in 2021 in the cultural economy of the service sector through various programmes," he said at the Visit Ipoh Festival 2024: Japan Summer Festival at Lorong Seni on Saturday (Aug 17).
"Some say it is a rebirth and regeneration. These programmes are what we need to do after the pandemic. We begin with the service sector to boost Ipoh," he added.
Rumaizi said the last two to three years have made Ipoh known to many, as the airport and train station are now filled with people.
"Now we have other problems to deal with, like traffic jams and parking difficulties," he said.
Separately, Rumaizi mentioned that the student exchange programme between Ipoh and Fukuoka would resume this year.
"We last had the student exchange programme in 2017, but it was stopped during the pandemic.
"We are resuming the programme as we want Ipoh to be an international standard city," he said.
Regarding the festival, Rumaizi stated it is a two-day cultural event aimed at showcasing the city's readiness to become a creative hub on the international stage.
"The aim is to let the world know that Ipoh is prepared to be a creative city.
"Therefore, we need to organise more creative events," he said, adding that the festival would be held annually.
Organised by the Persatuan Seni Tarian Dan Pendidikan Antarabangsa, the festival will be held at The Lost World of Tambun from 9am to 6pm on Saturday (Aug 17) and at the Japanese Garden in DR Seenivasagam Recreational Park on Sunday (Aug 18) from 9am to 4pm.
