History was made when tiny Perlis hosted the World Kite Festival for the second time with a record of 47 nations participating in the two-day fiesta near Arau – the royal township from 10 to 11 February 2026.
And the organising was also left to the staffers of the Politeknik Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin – a testament to the ability of college and technical specialists to organise and promote instead of depending on private events management.
In a statement, the Politeknik shared their pride and joy in hosting hundreds of amateur and professional kite enthusiasts, or pilots, for the just-concluded event.
The spillover is said to be good for tourism in the nation’s smallest state and something of which the Regent of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, can be proud, said tourism practitioner Ahmad Pishol Isahak.
He said that Perlis is good for kite flying due to the strong winds in the locality and a weather pattern of clear skies on the majority of the days.
Tuanku Syed Faizuddin has constantly reminded his subjects to tap the potential in tourism, which Perlis has, due to its landscape and strategic location to Langkawi and southern Thailand.
The event’s content consists of elements in tourism, technology, and education, while also allowing tourists to sample the attractions that the border state can offer.
And it is not just for recreation or tourism; kite flying can become a platform to promote experiential learning to the students under the platform of mentor-mentee.
The academic staff become mentors in guiding the students as mentees in how to organise events, manage logistics, conduct media outreach, and establish international collaborations, as well as the fieldwork needed in operating the space for kite flying.
Such experience would allow the students to acquire soft skills besides learning about Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), the college said.
The students were also exposed to community engagement activities and to interact with the global participants, who hailed from six continents – all for the adoration of flying kites.
The staff are also keen to support the “Visit Malaysia Year 2026” campaign while also showcasing that Perlis, despite its relatively small size, can become a beacon for tourism, similar to their neighbours in Kedah and Penang.
Besides kite flying, the organisers also held the Madani cheap sales bazaar, a night fun run, endurance activities, a symposium, traditional dance and singing performances, batik colouring, e-sports, Islamic culture activities, lucky draws, and a fireworks finale.
The festival showcased a variety of kite art and flying styles, and it attracted over 2,000 spectators.
Pishol said that the event proves the ability of Perlis to host events, including international ones.
He said that he would liaise with travel trade players to design a northern region tourist package where foreigners can visit Perlis for its rugged hills and Malay cuisine, Kedah for its eco-tourism and beaches, and Penang for its heritage, culture, and gastronomic attractions.
It is high time that northern states complement each other in terms of tourism, he said.
by Jiohn Chin
