KUANTAN: More than 20,000 local and international visitors showed up at Pantai Sepat here for the 2025 Kuantan International Kite Festival that began on Sept 11 and ends Monday (Sept 15).
Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the festival also attracted the participation of 25 international participants from 12 countries including Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Ukraine, Philippines, Hong Kong, Thailand and Vietnam as well as 24 locals.
"This third edition of the festival … has also become an event that many international participants and visitors anticipate," he said in his speech read out by Kuantan Mayor Datuk Zaliza Zulkipli at the closing ceremony of the festival at Pantai Sepat here Sunday (Sept 14).
He noted that the 20,000 visitors has had a major impact on the local economy, including for hoteliers, food operators and small traders.
"In 2024, Pahang received 13.7 million tourists with an estimated total expenditure of RM12.34bil, an increase of almost 4% compared to 2023. The state's gross domestic product also increased by 5.7%, higher than the national rate of 5.1%," he said.
The five-day festival was organised by the Kuantan City Council, the Malaysian Kite Council (MPM) and the Pahang Kite Association, together with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (MOTAC), Tourism Malaysia and Tourism Pahang. - Bernama
