Tourists spent RM9.29 billion on food and beverage in the country last year, up by six per cent from the RM8.77 billion, Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said here, yesterday. She said an unofficial survey by the hawkers association indicated that there were 500,000 hawkers in the country and 80 per cent of them were in the food and beverage business, with many offering street food.
The industry not only provided jobs for the people but also brought returns to the government, she said when launching the three-day “Fabulous Food 1 Malaysia 2010 — Street Food Festival” in Taman Sentosa here yesterday. The festival began on Friday. She also said that the government hoped to upgrade the food and beverage as well as restaurant industries, in tandem with Malaysia’s desire to become a high-income country.