Perak is to market itself aggressively abroad by promoting attractions dubbed the "10 Icons of Perak" to boost annual tourist arrivals by 500,000 to 3.5 million next year, senior state executive councillor Hamidah Osman said today.

She said the overseas promotion would be carried out in cooperation with Tourism Malaysia and would begin with Singapore.

"We also see China as a huge potential market," Hamidah, who is Perak Tourism Committee chairperson, told reporters at the Fascinating Malaysia Travel Fair 2009 at Suntec City in Singapore.

She said the 10 icons were the Royal Belum world's oldest rainforest; the Gua Tempurung largest limestone cave in Peninsular Malaysia; the Matang mangrove swamp forest; the Taiping Zoo; the Perak Herbal Park; the Orang Utan Island at Bukit Merah Laketown Resort; the Felda Residence Hotsprings in Sungai Klah, Sungkai; the royal town of Kuala Kangsar; Pangkor Island and Ipoh, which is well known for its beautiful limestone hills and diversity of food.

She also said it was hoped that more low-cost airlines would operate flights between Ipoh and Singapore. Budget airline Firefly Sdn Bhd has one flight a day between the two cities.

Hamidah said Perak offered, besides its natural attractions, a low-cost of living, and urged Singaporeans to visit the state.

The Fascinating Malaysia Travel Fair 2009, which began on Friday, ends today.

- Bernama