Visitors WOW-ed by festival

The WOW Kampar organising committee

Following a press conference in February, the two-day WOW Kampar festival officially kicked off on 24 March 2017 at the Sports@Grand Kampar Complex.

The inaugural festival, co-organised with the Kampar District Council (MDKpr), was a worthwhile experience for 203 UTAR Public Relations (PR) students following a record-busting turnout of over
50,000 visitors.

“It was quite challenging for a group of young PR students to organise such a large-scale and state-level event. Thankfully, we had the support from MDKpr, Grand Kampar Hotel, Perak State Government, Tourism Perak Management Berhad, and media partners, namely Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) and PerakFM, ntv7, TV8, Celcom Axiata Berhad, Navi J Production, and J-On throughout our four-month planning process and everything fell into place. With this festival, we wanted to breathe new life to Kampar. The warm support received is truly a clear indication that we were able to help raise the tourism profile of Kampar,” said WOW Kampar Organising Chairperson Chan Shu Ting.

The lively festival, held in conjunction with “Visit Perak Year 2017”, kick-started with a launching ceremony, which saw the presence of Tourism Committee Chairman Dato’ Nolee Ashilin Mohd Radzi, Orang Besar Jajahan Kampar Toh Sedewa Raja Dato' Hj. Abdul Talib bin Abd Fahmi, MDKpr President Khairul Amir bin Mohamad Zubir, UTAR Council Member Hew Fen Yee, UTAR Vice President for Student Development and Alumni Relations Prof Dr Choong Chee Keong, Faculty of Arts and Social Science (FAS) Dean Dr Alia Azalea and Chan.

From left: Toh Sedewa Raja Dato' Hj. Abdul, Chan, Dr Alia, Dato’ Nolee, Khairul Amir, Prof Choong and Hew at the launching ceremony

“We want it to become an annual event. Kampar has been around for 130 years and it is a beautiful town. It was a former tin mining town and it is rich in history. We need to keep this legacy and promote its uniqueness,” said Dato’ Nolee.

She also encouraged entrepreneurs to make use of Kampar’s tourism products, such as the Gaharu Farm, Tempurung Cave and Kellie’s Castle, to help boost its tourism industry, and hoped for the festival to be a signature event for the town.

Prof Choong, who represented UTAR President Ir Prof Academician Dato’ Dr Chuah Hean Teik to give a speech, also expressed his delight in seeing the event launched smoothly. “I am very proud of the organising committe’s efforts and potential to work together for the success of the festival. This is truly a testimony that defines the successful synergy between the private and public sector. Not only is it a platform to promote the “Visit Perak Year 2017” programme, but the festival have also united the citizens of Kampar and Perak,” said Prof Choong.

He added, “The university has also constantly emphasised on educating students to have a serviceable heart. Therefore, the WOW Kampar festival is a great way for students to contribute to the society, and to also continuously inspire their innovation to organise more meaningful events like this in the future.”

Undeniably, the highlights of the event, namely the tin mining history exhibition at the Kinta Tin Mining Museum, sports competition, food bazaar offering over 60 types of local food, and blood and hair donation campaigns strongly attracted the visitors and gave them a whale of time at the festival.

Another crowd favourite was the giant inflatable minion from the Despicable Me film franchise, which visitors eagerly took picture with, while other visitors were seen enjoying the “Big Eater Competition”, and at the arts and craft booth where they also learnt to do cosplay makeups.

Jointly, the town’s beautiful nature and its diversely united community with the festival’s five components – trade shows, sport and recreation activities, community relations programmes, entrepreneurship activities and edutainment activities, are believed to be the thrust for Kampar’s tourism potential. 

Marking the end of the festival was the closing ceremony attended by Deputy Finance Minister Dato’ Lee Chee Leong, Toh Sedewa Raja Dato' Hj. Abdul, Khairul Amir, Grand Kampar Hotel General Manager Shirllay Cheong, Dr Alia and Chan.

In his speech, Dato’ Lee expressed his hopes to see Kampar’s tourism potential raised, and believed that the festival will also help Kampar grow further to become a modern city. “Blessed with Mother Nature’s beauty, and the potential tourist spots such as the Tempurung Caves, Tin Mining Museum and water rafting activities, I believe Kampar can be a famous destination not only in Malaysia, but to the world,” he said.

He added “I believe WOW Kampar is a benchmark event for Kampar. This event will contribute to Kampar’s economy and bring up the reputation of this destination especially in economy and tourism industry.”

Dato’ Nolee trying out one of the games

From left: Cheong, Dr Alia, Toh Sedewa Raja Dato' Hj. Abdul, Dato’ Lee, Khairul Amir and Chan at the closing ceremony

Contestants at the “Big Eater Competition” trying to finish the 1kg pau with chicken curry filling

Local celebrities present to support the festival and to promote their latest television dramas

Visitors enjoying the activities prepared at the festival

Photos courtesy of WOW Kampar photography team. For more photos, kindly visit WOW Kampar’s Facebook page.