KANGAR, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The five-day Kuala Perlis International Water Festival 2025, which began on Sept 12, attracted over 50,000 visitors and generated nearly RM200,000 in returns for local entrepreneurs.
State Tourism, Arts, Culture, and Rural Development Committee chairman Abu Bakar Hamzah said that the festival supported food vendors as well as accommodation and other related service providers.
“It has had a direct impact on local traders and businesses, proving that this festival has the potential to become an annual international-calibre event,” he told reporters after the closing ceremony in Kuala Perlis today.
The closing ceremony was officiated by the Raja of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, who was accompanied by the Raja Perempuan of Perlis, Tuanku Tengku Fauziah Tengku Abdul Rashid.
The festival's main event, a Dragon Boat Race, attracted participants from 11 countries. The competitors included teams from Thailand, Brunei, and the Philippines, alongside expatriate teams representing Australia, England, Syria, Brazil, Libya, Canada, the United States, and Indonesia.
The festival also included community sports, cultural performances, and exhibitions, showcasing Perlis’ unique Malay heritage.
Abu Bakar said one of the festival's main highlights was the launch of the Royal Boat Jarum Emas Putra Jamalullail, which has become a new icon for water events in Perlis.
This was complemented by longboat and dragon boat races that brought the Kuala Perlis waterfront to life.
He added that events like these not only strengthen community bonds but also provide an opportunity to position Perlis as a premier tourist destination.
-- BERNAMA
