By Balqis Jazimah Zahari
Photo: Balqis Jazimah Zahari
There will be a relocation of hawker food stalls from Taman Rekreasi Sultan Abdul Aziz or Polo Ground, to a new venue which will promote ‘gastronomic tourism’ in order to attract more visitors.
Gastronomic tourism is an activity involving local foods and a unique food culture that can attract both international and local tourists to enjoy the dishes in this country.
The mayor of Ipoh, Datuk Rumaizi Baharin @ Md Daud, said that so far the hawkers have been cooperative regarding the relocation.
“So far there is no problem because they already understand the concept. Now we are moving with a new market (gastronomic tourism).
“I understand that when we made the ‘town hall’, they (hawkers) also agreed and understood the concept,” he said at the press conference after launching the Lalaland Cafe at Jalan Lasam today.
Rumaizi said that the decision was also a ‘win-win situation’ because the hawkers could increase their market and visitors would get additional parking spaces.
“We can no longer look at it individually and need to put it in a ‘food court’ concept. We put food in one place, so that we can make it a new product in the form of gastronomic tourism.
“The focus here is more on Malay food, so not only visitors from Ipoh but also foreigners can come to Ipoh because it is a new product,” he said.
He said the state government has already approved the land for the new relocation of the hawkers.
The media previously reported that the Ipoh City Council (MBI) recently held a briefing session on the relocation of Polo Ground hawkers chaired by the City Secretary, Ahmad Munir Ishak at the MBI Operations Room.
A total of 60 hawkers around the Polo Grounds will be concentrated in one area that will become one of the food hubs and attractions for outside visitors to the city of Ipoh.
The media previously also reported that the proposal to relocate roadside hawkers at the Sultan Abdul Aziz Recreation Park or better known as the Polo Ground received a positive reaction from the public who wanted the issue of congestion there to be addressed.
