Taiping Air Festival 2.0 To Draw 50,000 Visitors, Expose Students To Aviation World

IPOH, July 29 (Bernama) -- The Taiping Air Festival 2.0 (FUT 2.0) which will take place from July 31 to August 3 at Tekah Airport, Taiping is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors from home and abroad, making it one of the biggest air festivals this year.

Project director Captain Syafiq Bahri said FUT 2.0 is a continuation of the success of the inaugural edition in 2024, which has opened a new chapter in efforts to introduce Taiping as a tourism destination based on international aviation and aerial recreation technology.

“Based on the success of gathering more than 10,000 visitors last year, we expect FUT 2.0 to exceed that figure by organising on a larger scale and involving government agencies, local communities and industry players.

“FUT 2.0 is also aligned with the goals of Perak Sejahtera 2030 and the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign, making this festival one of the high-impact events in the country’s tourism calendar,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

Syafiq said the festival also provided early exposure to youths, especially school students, on careers in the aviation industry through educational content such as career talks, interactive activities and flight simulations.

“More than 500 students are expected to attend sessions featuring speakers in the fields of engineering and pilot services. Other activities such as paper airplane building competitions, drawing and colouring with the concept of the world of air are also provided for them.

"We are also offering a unique opportunity to students through joyrides using two types of aircraft, namely the Microlight and Cessna 172, which will give students the opportunity to experience flying in the Taiping airspace," he said.

He said visitors would also have the chance to witness an exhibition of various types of aircraft involving nine to 10 models including the Viper, Cessna Caravan, Cessna 172, Mooney, Gyrocopter and several other light aircraft used in the training, recreational and professional sectors.

Apart from that, Syafiq said the festival provided an opportunity for more than 100 local entrepreneurs comprising small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to generate income through the sale of food and beverages and clothing.

"With the active involvement of various parties and the expected warm reception, FUT 2.0 is believed to be a catalyst for the growth of the country's aero-industrial ecosystem and make Taiping a leading technical and historical tourism icon in Malaysia," he said.

-- BERNAMA