Hulu Perak Tourism Industry Set For Tremendous Growth

LENGGONG (Perak, Malaysia), Sept 4 (Bernama) -- The Hulu Perak tourism industry is set for tremendous growth after Lenggong Valley was recognised by Unesco as a world heritage site on June 30 last year, said northern state of Perak Chief Minister Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir. He said the number of tourist arrivals had since increased from 2,000 to 5,000 monthly due to the positive impact from the recognition. "We want this positive effect to benefit the rural community, especially in Lenggong through development or economic prosperity," he said at the first anniversary celebration of Lenggong Valley of a world heritage site at Dataran Lenggong here, last night. Regent of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah, who was accompanied by his consort Tuanku Zara Salim, officiated the first anniversary celebration which was filled with cultural and singing performances, and fireworks. Zambry said the Tourism and Culture Ministry as well as agencies like the National Heritage Department were actively developing and building tourism infrastructure in Lenggong Valley. "We believe that when the infrastructure is completed, Lenggong Valley will be ready to receive more tourists, thus helping to add tourism products for the country and spur our efforts to internationalise the state," he said. On the five-day celebration, he said it was aimed at promoting Lenggong Valley as a world heritage site and raising awareness among the local community on the need to appreciate the heritage as a valuable asset to the country. "We are very proud with this recognition, the first for Perak, and it gives a great brand to the Lenggong World Heritage Site itself," he said, adding that the celebration would be an annual affair. The Unesco recognition was obtained following the discovery of artefacts dating back 11,000 years ago during an archaeological excavation some 20 years ago. The 'Perak Man' found in Gunung Runtuh Cave in 1991 was one of the oldest and most complete human skeletal remains in South-East Asia, dated over 10,000 years old, thus showing evidence of a human settlement in Lenggong Valley since Palaeolithic age. -- BERNAMA