PENANG INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL 2019 CLOSING CEREMONY

SPEECH BY CHIEF MINISTER OF PENANG

AT PENANG INTERNATIONAL FOOD FESTIVAL 2019 CLOSING CEREMONY

28 APRIL 2019

 

First and foremost, thank you for inviting me to join all of you this evening and to share this joyous moment of the closing ceremony.  It is a great honour for me to be here tonight. The aroma of Ikan Bakar is making me very hungry. I can’t wait to get in line for a plate of freshly caught and grilled ikan pari wrapped in banana leaf!

Ladies and gentlemen,

The tourism industry in Penang continues to be one of the key pillars of our economy with growth at record levels. The services sector, including tourism now contributes nearly 50 percent of the state’s GDP, overtaking the manufacturing sector, even though the manufacturing industry has been in the lead for the past 30 to 40 years. 

One of Penang’s main tourism products is our diverse culinary offerings, which is a manifestation of our diverse culture, shaped by the state’s melting pot background since its founding. Many believe that eating local dishes while having a vacation in tourist destinations is a great boost to their travelling experience which brings them closer to our culture. Because of that, PIFF was introduced in 2017 not only to promote Penang as the food paradise of Asia, but also to enhance our guests’ traveling experiences.

The inaugural PIFF 2017 attracted some 400,000 hungry food lovers. In 2018, PIFF managed to attract some 705,000 festival goers, a testament to Penang’s status as the Food Paradise of Asia.

For the past two weeks, visitors to Penang indulged themselves in our culinary culture through immersive food walks, unique dining experiences, cooking demonstrations, competitions, and photo exhibition. For the food walks especially, visitors were taken to some of the best street food outlets in Pulau Tikus market and Raja Uda Apollo market. Through the tour, they were given explanation about the history of the local area and culture while sampling our street food. This is the kind of value-added experiences we hope to provide.  I believe that such a food tour is a creative way of connecting people with one other and the food in local neighbourhoods, while the unique dining experiences is a great chance for visitors to experience Penang from a new perspective where heritage, creativity and experimentation come into play.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are gathered here this evening for the closing ceremony of PIFF 2019 in Seberang Perai because there is so much to be proud of and be positive about the state’s tourism industry, especially in Seberang Perai.

In 2016, Design Village Outlet Mall became Malaysia's biggest outlet mall. In 2018, Batu Kawan stepped into the global spotlight by securing a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for holding the Largest Food Truck Rally, where 158 food trucks gathered to serve their grubs in one place, at the same time. Also in 2018, the Central Island Park, which is situated not far from here, is opened to the public, suitable for visitors wanting to connect with nature in an urban setting. The park houses a man-made lake featuring a 50-metre water jet display and an enchanting floral arch. This year, Swedish furniture brand IKEA has opened its first outlet in the northern region since March 14.

Moving forward, Seberang Perai will become a major attraction for businesses and leisure visitors to the northern region because two international hotels will be opened. The first hotel, the Holiday Inn Juru Sentral, will be a RM280-million four-star international hotel. It is set to be built by 2021. The second hotel, Aloft Hotel, is set to be opened by 2023.

I see a lot of potential here. Seberang Perai is poised to become a tourist hotspot due to its beautiful natural assets such as mangrove swamps, migratory birds and Sungai Perai. We want to shine a spotlight on some of Seberang Perai’s undiscovered and hidden holiday gems, showing there’s much more to Penang. As such, I assure you that the state government will continue to work out a tourism master plan that will include ecotourism in Seberang Perai for our vibrant tourism industry to continue to grow and prosper.

Having said all these, it is my sincere wish that visitors to PIFF 2019 have had a wonderful time because at the end of the day, what truly matters is that time well spent with your family, friends and loved ones is a step closer to the realization of a family-focused green and smart state that inspires the nation as envisaged the state government’s Penang2030 vision.

Enjoy. See you again at the Penang International Food Festival next year!

Thank you.