AS far as the tourists are concerned, Petaling Street is still an appealing tourist destination.

While many worry about the Chinatown's vanishing identity, mainly due to the influx of foreign workers, tourists interviewed by StarMetro did not see it as a problem.

"I like the atmosphere here - red lanterns, haggling, good food - and I can shop cheaply, it doesn't really matter if those who man the stalls are foreign workers," said Lindy from Australia.

Baunach Ulrich and his wife from Germany said they were fine with foreign workers selling the merchandise, but were not in favour of the cramped placements of stalls.

"It is just not as exotic as we expected it to be," he said.

Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association deputy president Sam Kwan said the popularity of Chinatown had not been affected by its changing image.

"Tourists from the West will not feel that the image of Chinatown has been marred because the foreign workers are still Asians, they will still come as long as this place offers them enjoyable shopping experience," he said.

"Tourists from Chinese-speaking countries did comment that they felt rather weird.

"However, our tour guides explained to them that the locals are mostly after highly skilled professions, thus the traders here have to hire foreign workers. They understood, because this is happening not only in Malaysia," he added.

He said the city's escalating crime rate and rude traders were more serious problem compared to Petaling Street's image change.

However, he said that the Chinese elements there must be retained.

Tour guide Kelvin Soo who has been bringing tourists to Petaling Street for the past five years said so far there had been no negative feedback from tourists pertaining to Petaling Street's identity.

"Petaling Street will remain popular as long as it is a good shopping place," he said.

Top photo - Too cramped: Ulrich (right) and his wife say they are fine with foreign workers selling the merchandise, but frowned at the cramped placements of stalls.