Klojen (malangkota.go.id) – Tong Tong Night Market 2023, which is entering its seventh year, was held again at The Shalimar Hotel Malang, Jl Cerme No. 16 Malang City, Friday (28/7/2023). The Mayor of Malang Drs. H. Sutiaji together with the Chairperson of the Malang City PKK TP Widayati Sutiaji also attended and opened this Culinary and Cultural Festival.
Malang Mayor Sutiaji appreciated The Shalimar Boutique Hotel for consistently holding this event. According to him, it is not easy to hold an event like this, especially when the Covid-19 pandemic hits, because the tourism and hospitality sectors are among the sectors most affected. However, the re-holding of Tong Tong Night Market is proof that this event is indeed in demand by the public.
The bespectacled man said that events that raise cultural themes like this are important to continue to be explored and offered to improve the tourism sector of Malang City. He said that cultural themes could be an alternative for Malang City which does not have the potential for natural resources to attract tourists.
"Because cities that do not have the potential of natural resources to offer, then what should be targeted is cultural tourism that will never run out and erode. Well, that's what we can develop later," he explained.
In addition, the number one person in the Malang City Government saw that the number of MSMEs involved in this event increased from the previous year. In the future, Sutiaji hopes that the Tong Tong Night Market can be held longer and can invite more MSMEs to participate. "We are grateful because the number of MSMEs involved is also increasing. Next year there must be more," he said.
Responding to what was conveyed by the Mayor of Malang, the owner of The Shalimar Boutique Hotel and Founder of Tong Tong Night Market, Lily Jessica Tjokrosetio stated that the number of MSMEs involved in this festival has indeed increased. In 2022, as many as 13 MSMEs were involved in the Tong Tong Night Market Festival which was held again after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, and in 2023 the number has increased.
Lily hopes that in the future more UMKM will be involved in this festival. "Last year there were only 13 UMKM, this year with the addition of Taman Tjerme, it will be 40 UMKM. Who knows, it could be 100 with the addition of cultural attractions," she hoped.
At the opening of the festival, Lily admitted that she was pleased with the enthusiasm of the people who attended. According to her, the number of visitors who came during the opening of the event was quite large and was a sign that the Tong Tong Night Market event was in demand by the public.
"From the opening until now, approximately 2,5 hours, it has been quite a lot. And if I see the reaction from my friends who sell, why are they all happy. So this is a good sign," he said happily. (iu/yon)
