SHAH ALAM, May 8 — Selangor is cementing its position as a gastronomy hub by making food a main attraction in its tourism campaigns.
Tourism Selangor chief executive officer Chua Yee Ling said the agency is working with Platform Selangor (PLATS) and government agencies to expand promotions of local cuisines to domestic and international tourists.
“Gastronomy tourism is among our main focuses as most tourists who visit a destination surely want to try local fare.
“Food is often the highlight in one’s travel plans,” she told Media Selangor.
According to her, Tourism Selangor has a “food trail” in its Signature Selangor pamphlets, which list eateries across the state’s nine districts.
Chua added that the directory has been published in physical and digital forms so tourists may plan their itineraries based on the locations of recommended eateries.
She said social media also plays an important role in the promotion of gastronomy tourism.
“If we look at social media like Instagram, Facebook and TikTok, food-related content is among the most attention-grabbing, which helps promote Selangor as a food destination,” she explained.
Chua also urged the staging of more food festivals with external organisers, as the state provides grants of between RM5,000 and RM10,000 to support the initiative.
Besides holding more gastronomy-related events, it would also stimulate local economies including small-time goods, accommodation and tourism businesses.
“This effort is also in line with current travel trends that focus more on short vacations, in which Selangor has an advantage in terms of location and cuisine diversity,” Chua said.
