Kuala lumpur: The Pantai Timur Fest 2025, to be held here from Oct 2 to 5, will showcase the unique cuisine of the states of Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu, as well as the culture, arts, crafts and activities of the local communities. Tourism Malaysia senior director of Domestic and Events Division, Datin Rafidah Idris, said the festival, held at the Seri Pacific Hotel grounds, aims to promote the East Coast as a premier tourism destination and strengthen cooperation with industry and media partners.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, states on the East Coast such as Pahang, Kelantan, and Terengganu are the main focus for ecotourism attractions, culture and family vacation destinations. Rafidah said the Pantai Timur Fest 2025 also aims to serve as a pre-promotion to build momentum towards the success of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026), thereby highlighting Malaysia’s readiness as a dynamic tourism hub.

She said Tourism Malaysia views the organisation of the festival as an important step that will benefit all segments of tourism (niche tourism) such as ecotourism, cultural tourism and gastronomy. “At the same time, it also emphasises eco-friendly aspects and local culture, which are now a priority for global tourists,” she said, adding that the festival will also feature performances by local artistes.

Rafidah also mentioned that Tourism Malaysia will organise the Global Meet 2025, an international tourism conference to be held from Oct 1 to 3 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur (WTCKL), beside the festival’s location. She added that the presence of thousands of global participants would make the Pantai Timur Fest 2025 a high-impact strategic platform to introduce the beauty and uniqueness of Pahang, Terengganu, and Kelantan directly to the international market, as well as a crucial platform to promote Malaysia as a must-visit destination.