The much-anticipated Penang International Food Festival (PIFF) 2024 is set to take place this November, bringing together Penang’s finest street food and local culinary culture under one exciting event.
This year’s festival will feature two major events spread across consecutive weekends, offering food enthusiasts a chance to experience the vibrant flavours of Penang in two distinct locations.
The first event, PIFF @ Tanjung, will take place at Beach Street in George Town (Penang Island), on Nov 2 & 3, supported by the office of YB Lim Hui Ying, Deputy Finance Minister and Tanjung MP. The event is organised by Dreamz.
The second event, PIFF @ Batu Kawan, will take place at Design Village in Batu Kawan (Seberang Perai) on Nov 9 and 10. The event is supported by Design Village (PE Land), with TLM as the event organiser.
Wong Hon Wai, the state Exco for Tourism & Creative Economy, emphasised the importance of food tourism in boosting Penang’s economy.
He noted that Penang has consistently been ranked as one of the top food destinations in the world, drawing visitors not just from Malaysia but from around the globe.
“PIFF2024 is an opportunity to showcase this very strength and to continue building Penang’s reputation as a top food haven.
“With Penang now having 31 international direct flight routes connecting 17 cities, we are seeing a surge in tourist arrivals. Upcoming direct flights from Hong Kong and Shenzhen will further boost accessibility, making it easier for international visitors to enjoy our famous hawker food and other cultural attractions,” Wong said during a press conference at Komtar today.
Lim, who was also present, expressed their shared commitment to highlighting Penang’s exceptional food scene and contributing to the growth of our local economy and tourism industry.
“We’re confident that PIFF @ Tanjung will attract both local and international visitors, boosting our tourism and hospitality industry,” Lim said.
She added that as the Tanjung MP’s service centre is organising the event on the island, priority will be given to all hawkers from Tanjung before opening up the opportunity to others.
Andy Song, the chief operating officer of PE Land (Penang) said they are proud to be involved with the event at Design Village to bring more visitors to the mainland.
He added that they are in the process of upgrading their eight linear parks, establishing four new water features within their landscape, and creating a new playground.
Also present at the press conference were Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng, Penang Global Tourism chief executive officer Ooi Chok Yan and Penang Island City Council (MBPP) councillor Alan Lim Wei Lun, Dreamz director W.Y. Cheah, TLM Event managing director Jack Wong and Design Village marketing manager Suly Ooi.
The organisers are anticipating 250,000 people to attend each event in Beach Street and Batu Kawan, with 100 booths expected at each location.
Hawkers and food vendors interested in registering for PIFF2024 can contact:
- PIFF @ Tanjung: Ms Iris, +6012 552 8323 [email protected]
- PIFF @ Batu Kawan: Mr Chun Shen +6012-454 5694 [email protected]
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Law Suun Ting