Pesta Angin Timur Perlis 2026 aims to attract over 300,000 visitors and generate RM5 million in sales with new international events.
KANGAR: Pesta Angin Timur (PAT) Perlis 2026 is targeting more than 300,000 visitors over its three-day run beginning on February 6.
Perlis Menteri Besar Abu Bakar Hamzah said the target marks a significant increase from about 50,000 visitors recorded at last year’s flood-affected edition.
The festival will be held at Dataran Kangar Jaya and is listed in the tourism calendar for Visit Malaysia 2026.
“PAT 2026 will feature several large-scale new programmes expected to be major attractions, including for international visitors,” said Abu Bakar.
A key new event is the Mega Folding Bicycle Gathering, featuring a 20-kilometre leisure ride around Kangar.
More than 200 participants, including from abroad, have confirmed their participation for this first-time Perlis event.
International participation has increased following continuous promotional efforts in collaboration with tourism agencies, including in Thailand.
The festival’s core remains the diversity of arts and culture, with a drum symphony performance and traditional acts like makyong.
Visitors will also be treated to various other local and Nusantara heritage performances.
Recreational activities include hot air balloons, paramotoring, and a classic motorcycle gathering.
Sales zones will offer traditional food, SME products, and local handicrafts.
Abu Bakar said the festival serves as an important platform to stimulate the local community’s economy.
It also aims to strengthen Perlis’s position as a leading cultural tourism destination in the northern region.
The event targets generating over RM5 million in sales through local entrepreneurs and tourism players.
