Singapore has long been touted as a "food paradise". Many tourists visit our country and taste the food that can be found in local hawker centres.

With more hawkers recognised by Michelin, the number of visitors patronising these stalls is bound to increase ("Hawkers join celebrity chefs on Michelin list", last Friday; and "Hawkers galore on Michelin's Bib list", July 15).

This is an example of how the preservation of our local culture can coexist together with efforts to remain an economically vibrant country. The two are not mutually exclusive.

It is imperative that we continue to safeguard our unique hawker culture, which never fails to bind all Singaporeans.

It is truly a phenomenal achievement for Singapore's gastronomic scene to have two hawker stalls awarded a Michelin star.

This proves that anyone here can indulge in good, affordable food, with recipes that have lasted for generations.

Ashley Tan Yu Yi, 16, Secondary 4 student