Tourists name KL among top 10 leading cities to visit

KUALA LUMPUR: Kuala Lumpur is ranked ninth out of 100 leading cities for tourist arrivals, said Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal.
Quoting Euromonitor International, Ahmad said that it was not a surprise KL made it to the Top 10 list, with Malaysia's sumptuous food constantly luring tourists to the city.
The mayor was unveiling a three-day day food festival that would be held in Dataran Merdeka from May 29-31, 2015.
"This is an important milestone for Kuala Lumpur, as we unveil the inaugural Kuala Lumpur Big Kitchen Festival 2015. This festival is set to serve delectable dishes ranging from Malaysian favourite street food right up to fine dining, highlighting KL city as a gastronomic heaven to foodies around the world," he said in the ceremony at Berjaya Times Square Hotel today.
Kuala Lumpur Big Kitchen Festival 2015 is a plan under the initiative of the Kuala Lumpur Tourism Master Plan 2015 - 2025, with the action plan to position KL as a gastronomic centre.
There are some 5,000 licensed restaurants in the city, creating an almost endless list of delectable delights for tourists to enjoy.
The festival will transform Dataran Merdeka into eight quarters – they are aptly named Negeri, Warung, Manisan, Food Trucks, Warisan, Samplings, The Dulang and Mayor's Courtyard – to include every facet of Malaysian food.
Each quarter will be set up in a unique presentation serving everything from one's favourite childhood dish to molecular gastronomy dishes.
The festival would be held in partnership with Berjaya University College of Hospitality, Malaysia Airlines, Gas Petronas and Elextrolux.
Amongst famous chefs that would be part of the festival is UK based Malaysian chef and Kuala Lumpur Food Ambassador Chef Norman Musa, Celebrity Chef Chef Wan and Chef Datuk Ismail Ahmad and more.