The Perlis state government is setting its sights on the Nakawan Range as the centrepiece of its domestic tourism efforts this year, leveraging the area’s breathtaking natural features to attract more visitors.

According to State Tourism, Arts and Culture and Rural Development Committee chairman Abu Bakar Hamzah, the Nakawan Range — which stretches from Wang Gunung to Kampung Wai in Kuala Perlis — is home to rare limestone formations and over 1,000 unexplored caves. The area also boasts three scenic blue lakes ideal for nature-based tourism.

“The Nakawan Range is one of the most beautiful limestone formations in the country. This year, we will make it the main attraction in our tourism campaigns,” he said at a Tourism Malaysia engagement session with Perlis tourism industry players today.

Abu Bakar noted that nearly one million tourists visited Perlis in the first two months of 2025, with peak arrivals recorded during school holidays and festive periods. To sustain this growth, he highlighted ongoing efforts to improve cleanliness, enhance community-based tourism activities, and maintain affordable service pricing.

“We want tourists to enjoy not only Perlis’ natural beauty but also our hospitality, food, and clean environment,” he added.

Tourism Malaysia, in a statement, confirmed that the engagement session supports the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign. Perlis is the second Northern Zone state to host such a programme, following similar sessions nationwide.