INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue X October 2025
products and prices. To attract more tourists to Malaysia, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture created the slogan
"Malaysia Truly Asia," focusing on promoting tourist destinations, food, shopping venues, and modern and
traditional Malaysian festivals (Tourism Malaysia, 2015). Tourism Malaysia not only provides information on
tourist destinations in the capital but also promotes famous destinations in every state, such as Kelantan.
Kelantan is a state in Malaysia located on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. It is renowned for its cultural
heritage and natural environment, which contribute to the growth of the tourism industry in this state (Hanan &
Abd Hamid, 2017). Kelantan boasts various artistic heritage forms, including Mak Yong, dikir barat, wayang
kulit, silat tari, and others. Furthermore, the state holds festivals almost every year to welcome tourists (Hanan
& Aminudin, 2012), such as the international kite festival, food festival, and cultural festival. According to a
2019 report, Kelantan received 11 million visitors in 2019. Meanwhile, the number of tourist arrivals to Kelantan
that year was 6.5 million. This figure represented a growth of 37.3 percent compared to 2018. These festivals
indirectly help boost the economic and tourism sectors in Kelantan. However, this study focuses solely on food
festivals held in Kelantan, which consistently highlight unique and distinctive foods (Hanan & Aminudin, 2012).
Kelantan is indeed famous for its sweet foods, but they possess a uniqueness of flavor that sets them apart. Most
visitors come to Kelantan specifically to try and savor the delicious authentic foods found in the state (Hanan &
Abd Hamid, 2017), including kuih akok, kuih tahi itik, kuih cek mek, kuih lompat tikam, kuih bunga tanjung,
nasi tumpang, nasi kerabu, laksam, and others. Authentic food in Kelantan also garners attention from domestic
and international tourists (Mohammad & Chan, 2011). This is because the preparation process of authentic food
has its own recipes, inherited from ancestors, giving this food its uniqueness and delicious taste (Muhammad et
al., 2015). The authenticity of cuisine, based on genuine food, culture, and socio-economics, represents the true
attitudes and implications of an ethnicity (Nurti, 2017).
Problem Statement
Food is often a key component in tourism, especially during festivals. However, behind the festivity of these
celebrations, various questions arise regarding authentic food and its impact on visitors attending festivals in
Kelantan (Hanan & Abd Hamid, 2017). Therefore, this study focuses on how authentic food and experience
influence place attachment among festival visitors in Kelantan. This research is necessary because, presently,
traditional food is seen as having been significantly modified and influenced by external factors, no longer
retaining the authentic characteristics of a place. According to Hanan and Abd Hamid (2017), food in Kelantan
has been heavily influenced by Thailand due to certain factors. These include Kelantanese citizens marrying
Thai nationals and subsequently relocating and settling in Kelantan. Consequently, Thai food has been
introduced to Kelantan, leading to changes in the original recipes (Mohammad & Chan, 2011). As a result,
authentic food in Kelantan has been altered and adapted, so the original recipes are no longer used. Research
conducted by Mohammad, Tajulurrus Chan, and Jennifer Kim Lian (2011) in Thailand regarding Thai food
appears to be one factor influencing the positioning of food.
Although authentic food is known, many younger generations are less aware, unfamiliar, or have never even
heard of the names of traditional foods found in Kelantan. According to Muhammad, Nur Hafizah, Mohd
Shahrim, and Humairah (2015), the modern world has exposed young people to other food collections, such as
Western fast food, Japanese food, and more, as traditional food no longer offers variety. Meanwhile, Hanan and
Abd Hamid (2017) state that Kelantan receives less focus, despite having various traditional heritage foods that
have survived to this day. This is due to a lack of promotion of authentic food on social media, leading to
diminished demand and the gradual fading of authentic food. Furthermore, innovative food products such as
cheese keropok lekor, bubble tea, and others have gained attention and a place in society. According to Karim
(2020), loss of interest, lack of early exposure to traditional food, and an attitude that glorifies foreign foods are
considered contributors to the extinction of special dishes. Therefore, the authenticity of cuisine is crucial, as it
can contribute to the cooking process and help preserve the identity and culture of Malaysian society.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Festival
Festivals are one element of tourism because they can attract many domestic and international tourists. Festival
events are increasingly popular among visitors and can be linked to social, cultural, and economic change (van
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