THE people of Perak have every reason to be proud that its capital has been ranked the sixth best destination in Asia and ahead of all cities in Southeast Asia by Lonely Planet, the world’s largest travel guide book publisher.
State Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi was surprised with the accolade and would be meeting tourism agencies to discuss promotions and business opportunities.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir attributed the success to reviving some of the city’s old buildings like shop- houses into quaint cafes, turning Ipoh into a “hipster town” as the subculture and lifestyle have gained widespread following.
Mayor Datuk Zamri Man said local investors believed that Ipoh was one of the best places to visit in Asia and had ventured into a fast-paced restoration of period houses, and centuries-old and historic buildings.
Visitors to Ipoh can experience contemporary street art, traditional coffee shops, art cafes and colonial masterpieces in the same street, or enjoy wild escapes like bird-watching while cycling through Kinta Nature Park and white water rafting near Gopeng, apart from visiting cliff-top temples and the fragrant Gaharu Tea Valley.
On the other hand, the recent destruction of Lunar Peaks, one of Kuala Lumpur’s most prominent public sculptures by National Laureate artist Syed Ahmad in 1986, was an indicator of how the local authority dealt with old structures in the city.
A comment by former Malaysian Institute of Architects president Datuk Tan Pei Ing indicates how “people-friendly” Kuala Lumpur is. She said the city pathways were not fit for everyday pedestrians let alone people with disabilities because the sidewalks were uneven, disjointed and continuously cut off as well as pothole-ridden.
Ipoh used to boast a large number of millionaires thanks to tin mining but with the collapse of the industry in the 1970s, many local residents moved to other cities and states in search of greener pastures.
Many young men and women were laughed at when they said they were from Ipoh, hence the term “Ipoh Mari”. But, now, those from Ipoh can beam with pride as tourists are flocking there for its famous food, fruit and white coffee.
The most picturesque sight along the North-South Expressway must surely be the jungle-covered mountains and limestone hills before Ipoh and my idea of paradise is to stay in a chalet with a view of this pristine area.
After the formation of Malaysia, our gravest mistake was we did not maintain old shophouses and buildings, allowing them to deteriorate or be torn down in the name of development. If we had preserved them, like in Europe, our cities and towns would be living museums and many would
dominate the top 100 list of
global rankings.
The other colossal and irrecoverable loss was cutting down large swathes of virgin jungles for logging and plantation, which is happening even now in rain-catchment areas crucial to water supplies.
As such, Ipoh should exploit its tourism potential for the long-term benefit of future generations and adopt the maxim “we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children”.
Early this year, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron launched a smartphone application known as Destinasi Melaka, developed by Telekom Malaysia and the Malacca Tourism Promotion Division.
If Ipoh had not done so, this should be the top priority as information available from an app is organised in the most useful manner and accessible by anyone around the world.
Tourists attracted to Ipoh via the app would continue to use it upon arrival to make bookings or for navigation, without having to unfold paper maps or asking for directions.
Perak tourism authorities should not waste money printing pamphlets as most will be left untouched or thrown away. Instead, they should discard old-school ways and promote the hipster subculture, which is cool and contemporary. Well done, Ipoh!
C.Y. MING, Ampang, Kuala Lumpur