The 2017 East Wind Festival (PAT) has managed to give cultural tourism in Perlis a major boost besides creating greater community awareness on heritage arts.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azlan Man said PAT had been receiving very encouraging response every year, from all strata of the community within and outside of Perlis.

"From the first festival to the fifth and current event, the number of visitors continued to rise with more people participating in the various competitions held.

"This is the atmosphere we want. The people are learning our traditional cultural and heritage arts which have been forgotten," said Azlan Man who was confident 2017 PAT could meet its target of 100,000 visitors.

He was speaking to reporters after launching the festival at Kampung Padang Telela, Pauh here Saturday.

Also present were Tourism and Culture Ministry secretary-general, Datuk Ab Ghaffar A. Tambi and National Culture and Arts Department director-general Tan Sri Norliza Rofli. --Bernama