Ng: Our food is our biggest draw

KUALA LUMPUR: The lure of delicious food has enticed tourists to spend RM9.7bil on food and beverage last year.

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said the figure accounted for 17.2% of overall tourist expenditure for the year. “Food has and will continue to be one of our attractions. “And, our tourism sector has grown to become the second largest foreign exchange earner after manufacturing,” she said in her speech, read by ministry secretary-general Datuk Ong Hong Peng, before launching the Food and Hotel Malaysia (FHM) 2011 exhibition.

Several other conventions and culinary competitions are being held in conjunction with the exhibition. It ends on Friday. Held for the 11th time, it showcases technology and products related to food, drinks, hotel and restaurants. About 20,000 visitors are expected at the exhibition with 1,000 exhibitors from 45 nations. It is open to professional, trade and business visitors only.

Dr Ng said Malaysia was the ninth most visited country in the world, and recorded 24.6 million tourist arrivals with RM56.5bil annually. In 2009, 23.6 million tourists visited Malaysia and spent RM53.4bil. “I seek your (industry players') continued support and partnership to achieve our target of 36 million tourists and RM168bil in tourism revenue by the year 2020,” said Dr Ng.

-thestar online.