January 6, 2011 at 12:00 pm
Malaysia’s great diversity of food can contribute to the development of the country’s tourism industry, said Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit.
He said that in 2009, the food and drinks business generated an income of RM9.3 billion for the industry. In 2008, the figure was RM8.7 billion while a year earlier it was RM8.3 billion.
Malaysian Food
“A country is always remembered by its good food,” he said when closing the Fabulous Food 1Malaysia Street and Restaurant Food Fair 2010 at the Town Square here Sunday night.
He said typical Malaysian fare like satay and “nasi lemak” of the Malay community, roti canai” of the Indians and “bak kut teh” and Hainanese chicken rice of the Chinese were now very popular with foreign tourists.
Dr Dawos also said that the next 10 years would be a most challenging time for the industry, with various projects to be implemented.
“The government has formulated a 12-point flagship plan to further stimulate tourism growth in the hope of receiving 36 million tourists by 2020, with an income of RM168 billion.
“A budget of RM136.6 billion will be required by this plan, of which RM4.6 billion will come from the government and RM132 billion from the private sector,” he said.
Accordingly, he said, the restaurant, food and drinks business and travel and tour business had been identified as the pillars of support for the industry.
He called on the industry players and the people to give their fullest support to make these plans a success.
Dr Dawos said Malaysia had very good selling points as far as tourism development was concerned.
“We have luxuriant tropical greenery, a rich cultural heritage of diversity, a wide variety of delicacies of the various communities and a harmonious multi-racial society,” he said.
Source: Bernama
Photo (c) Danny Choo