A GROUP of social media influencers and key opinion leaders gathered in Penang to find ways to boost the value of the state's gastronomic scene ahead of next year's Visit Malaysia 2026.
Dream Makers founder Engel Teoh said the event was to allow the online content creators to experience the next level of the state's gastronomic status.
Penang is already renowned as a preferred global street food destination, which is a big plus for tourism, said Teoh.
But the events specialist also differed on how far street food can take Penang in terms of pulling in tourists because over time, new attractions must be introduced.
"Even return tourists would become immune with the same old street dishes. Their taste buds would crave for more different dishes. It is a normal reaction."
Instead, Teoh said that Penang needs to innovate its food scene and allow the upskilling of cooks and chefs to prepare new exotic and appetising cuisine.
She also said that tourism also needs an injection of more high spending tourists to raise the income of service providers, so more reinvestments can be poured into the sector.
The influencers and opinion leaders were treated to a fused Italian cuisine at the Six Cuisines restaurant by its owner Vergis Mathews.
Vergis, the former long serving Malaysian Association of Tours and Travel Agents (MATTA) Penang chapter chairperson, said that tasting food is now an art.
"Tourists want the ambiance to go with their meals. Yes, some would opt for the street food settings but an equal number would like to dine in places with nice settings."
He said that Penang's food scene needs to be bolstered with new additions including fine dining and food which caters to the nutritional needs.
"Healthy eating besides just the taste also needs to be promoted. We also need to educate tourists about what they are eating and drinking."
Vergis also said that diners also now want a feel of entertainment to go with their dining pleasure.
For example, he pointed out the need to understand wine from the old world (Europe) and new world (Australia and Americas).
The brewing process to the contents, are an insightful dinner, including on how one holds a wine glass, he said.
The participants to the event also celebrated the birthdays of three individuals, as well as were urged to take part in singing and impromptu comedy skits. - June 25, 2025.
