TOURISM MALAYSIA STEPS UP PROMOTION OF MALAYSIAN FOOD AND CULTURE

Mohamad Bakri Darus

DUBAI, May 5 (Bernama) -- Tourism Malaysia will intensify programmes to
promote Malaysian food and culture abroad to get more foreigners to visit
Malaysia.

Its acting director-general, Azizan Noordin, said food and culture were
Tourism Malaysia's promotion strategy since the 1970s and they had contributed a
lot to the country's tourism industry.

He said programmes were carried out almost every month by Tourism Malaysia
to promote Malaysian food and culture overseas.

"Our markets are the Asean region, West Asia, Europe, Japan and Korea," he
told Bernama here after opening the Malaysian Food and Culture Week at the
Shangri-la Hotel here.

The programme, held from May 3 to 9, is organised by Tourism Malaysia and
Shangri-la Hotel, with the cooperation of the Malaysia Airlines.

Among the Malaysian food being promoted there are nasi lemak (rice cooked in
coconut milk), nasi goreng (fried rice), rendang (spicy beef), roti canai (flat
bread) and satay (marinated, skewered and grilled meats).

Azizan said that Malaysia was a food haven for foreign tourists because of
the variety and uniqueness of the food found in the country.

"We have Malay, Chinese and Indian dishes," he added.

On cultural promotion, Azizan said cultural troupes, like from Istana
Budaya (National Theatre), would be specially brought to perform.

He said besides food and culture, handicraft products, like batik, weaving
and pewter, where the masters in the respective fields were brought to
demonstrate their skills and promote their products.

Last year, Malaysia attracted 24.6 million tourists. This year, Malaysia is
hoping to get 25 million tourists.

Meanwhile, chefs Zalizam Mohamad Rasidi and Zaidi Rajimen are proud to have
been selected to prepare the Malaysian food in Dubai.

Another crowd-puller at the Malaysian booth is a demonstration on making teh
tarik (hot tea beverage - pulled tea) by Mior Sazali Ali.