Dining, along with shopping, is said to be the country's national pastime.[237] The focus on food has led countries like Australia to attract Singaporean tourists with food-based itineraries.[238] The diversity of food is touted as a reason to visit the country,[239] and the variety of food representing different ethnicities is seen by the government as a symbol of its multiculturalism.[240] The "national fruit" of Singapore is the durian.[241]
In popular culture, food items belong to a particular ethnicity, with Chinese, Malay, and Indian food clearly defined. However, the diversity of cuisine has been increased further by the "hybridisation" of different styles (e.g., the Peranakan cuisine, a mix of Chinese and Malay cuisine).[239]