Latest news with #LohSzeYee
The Star
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Dragon Boat Festival celebrated in Sungai Siput to preserve tradition
SUNGAI SIPUT: About 100 people gathered at the Kg Baru Rimba Panjang basketball court this morning to celebrate Duan Wu Jie, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival. The event, attended by village residents, was officiated by Perak Tourism Committee Chairman Loh Sze Yee. Loh emphasized the importance of educating younger generations about the origins of traditional festivals like the Dumpling Festival to preserve cultural heritage. "Young people need to be curious about their traditions. They should ask questions like why we eat dumplings or the story behind the dragon boat. There is a reason behind every element, a deeper meaning that often gets forgotten," he said to reporters today (May 24). He added that understanding the historical and cultural significance behind such practices is key to keeping them alive. "It's not just about the food or the celebration; it's about the message and the story behind it. It's important to have knowledge in preserving our traditions," he added. In Malaysia, a key highlight of Duan Wu Jie, celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, is enjoying dumplings with family and friends. The festival commemorates the poet Qu Yuan, who drowned himself about 1,000 years ago to protest corrupt practices in China. After his death, people threw zongzi in a gesture to stop fish from feeding on his remains.
The Star
21-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Perak records 11.9% increase in foreign tourist arrivals
Estimated gross expenditure by international tourists throughout 2024 reached RM184.4mil in Perak. —Bernama THE arrival of international tourists to Perak throughout the Visit Perak Year 2024 campaign has seen significant increase. Perak tourism, industry, investment and corridor development committee chairman Loh Sze Yee said according to the Hotel Guest Survey 2024 by Tourism Malaysia, a total of 970,611 international tourists visited the state compared to 867,665 tourist arrivals in 2023. This, he said, was an increase of 102,946 or 11.9% of international tourists. 'This growth demonstrates the effectiveness of the tourism promotion strategies that were implemented. 'Meanwhile, data on domestic tourism will be released by the Statistics Department via the Domestic Tourism Survey, sometime in mid this year,' he said during the Perak state assembly. Loh said Tourism Perak officially carried out a total of 122 tourism-related events and activities throughout the campaign. The programmes, he said, covered a variety of segments such as arts and culture, sports tourism, eco-tourism, gastronomy, heritage and community- based activities. 'This initiative successfully attracted 1.1 million visitors, proving Perak's capability to be a destination of choice for both local and international tourists. 'Tourist expenditure covered various aspects such as accommodation, transport, fuel, food and beverages, souvenir purchases, and entrance fees to tourism products. 'For example, on average, an international tourist spent around RM190 per day, including for accommodation, transportation, food and basic tourism activities.' Based on the presence of 970,611 international tourists throughout 2024, Loh said the estimated gross expenditure reached RM184.4mil. 'This figure is expected to increase when domestic tourist spending is also taken into account,' he added. Loh said the success of Visit Perak Year 2024 was proof that the tourism sector could be a key catalyst for the state's economic development. He said not only did it generate income, but it also opened up more job opportunities, encouraged local community participation and strengthened local identity and culture as unique attractions for the state. This year, Loh said several new tourism products had received financial support from both the state and federal governments to develop better tourism infrastructure. 'These include upgrading of facilities and infrastructure at Laman Tanjung Belanja in Parit, upgrading of tourist hotspots at Laman Anjung Pelita (Kampung Gajah), basic eco-tourism infrastructure upgrade at Lata Tebing Tinggi (Selama) and construction of new public toilets at the Sungai Dipang recreational area. 'These newly approved projects are the first steps toward positioning Perak as a competitive tourism destination in Malaysia,' he added.
