(From left) Chao, Rumaizi and Lau signing the guitar at the launch of the new Hard Rock Cafe outlet in Ipoh.
IPOH: More international brands are needed to attract tourists in order to realise the city's vision of becoming a main tourism destination by 2025, says Datuk Rumaizi Baharin.
The Ipoh Mayor said the soon-to-open Hard Rock Cafe is a milestone for Perak and Ipoh specifically.
He said he was honoured that Hard Rock Cafe International had selected the city for its new outlet, adding it was timely as it coincides with Visit Ipoh Year 2023.
"I am certain with the outlet opening here, we will be able to attract more tourists, especially internationally.
"We are progressing and plans are on the way to get Unesco to declare Ipoh as a creative city under the arts and music field," he told a press conference at the soft launch of Hard Rock Cafe Ipoh on Friday (June 9).
Also present were Hard Rock Cafe International vice-president (Asia Pacific) Malcolm Chao, as well as Tiong Nam Group Hotel and Hospitality general manager Johnny Lau.
This is the café's fifth outlet in Malaysia, after Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, Penang and Johor.
Rumaizi said there have been more tourists visiting Ipoh, with weekly flights from Singapore and Johor to reach 45, compared to 14 trips in 2019.
"Occupancy rates at hotels have also increased as Ipoh recorded 50,000 tourists in the first four months of this year," he added.
Lau said the Rock Shop, selling Hard Rock merchandise, would start operating on June 16 but the cafe would only open at the end of the year.
