Balloons to launch soon at Malaysian festival

The seventh Putrajaya Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (PHABF) is due to be held later this month. Last year the Malaysian festival attracted 200,000 people. Although the date of the event has been moved earlier, organisers now expect more than 300,000 people to attend between the 12th and 15th of March. Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat, the president of the Putrajaya Corporation, told the press:

"The fiesta coincides with the Year of Festival 2015 programme, Malaysia Truly Asia organised by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture. Holding the fiesta during the school break will help to increase the number of visitors this year."

Once again, the fiesta will feature nightglows, which will be held on the 14th and 15th of March. The illuminations will be synchronised with music, with the finale of each including fireworks. There will also be the chance for visitors to see Putrajaya from the air, with seven-minute helicopter rides being made available. Tethered hot air balloon rides will be offered to members of the MyBalloonClub, who will also be able to enter the fiesta via a private entrance. There will be balloons and pilots from eleven countries attending the event. On the 12th and 13th of March, hot air balloons will take off in the morning at 7am and the evening at 6pm. For the remaining two days, the balloons will only fly in the mornings, again at 7am, with the glow events held in the evening instead of flying.