KOTA KINABALU: Sabah needs to tap and boost its area of food tourism, said Datuk Seri Christina Liew.
The Tourism, Culture and Environment state minister said this in light of the phenomenal success of the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) Ramadhan Buffet 2025, which dispensed 850 Asian Continental cuisine this month.
After visiting the Ramadhan Buffet at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Thursday (May 27), she noted that the abnormal activity was a pullout, with at least 1,650 local and foreign customers nightly during the fasting month.
Liew mentioned that food tourism is another growing element of Sabah’s successful tourism industry, based on its reputation as a food paradise, apart from being well-known for nature, adventure, diving and wildlife tourism.
“We can also make Sabah a food tourism destination. I believe food tourism packages will attract more visitors to the state that is already a top travel destination, especially those looking for a unique culinary experience,” she said.
The one-month buffet of local, international, and Menu DiRaja (i.e., menus served at the Istana) ends on Saturday (March 29).
Liew clarified that the food tourism industry will create more jobs and activate the local economy by triggering the demand to increase agricultural production (with emphasis on food production) and redevelop the food chain.
“Sabah is a melting pot of many cultures. SICC can come up with 850 menus per day of our cultural and ethnic mix. And above that, we have culinary specialists,” said SICC chief executive officer Datuk Rosmawati Lasuki, in an interview at the venue.
In fact, SICC with its “Taste of The World” Ramadhan Dinner Buffet serving 850 menus, had last year entered the Asia Book of Records for “Maximum Dishes Prepared of International Cuisines”, she furthered.
