DOT to boost food tourism initiatives next year

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Tourism (DOT) will continue its push for food tourism next year as it will boost its marketing initiatives in positioning the country as a gastronomic destination.
“Food will be big next year,” Tourism Assistant Secretary for branding and marketing communications Howard Lance Uyking said.

“I think the most international thing we did [this year] was to bring the FilAm chefs here,” he said.

Last month, the DOT introduced the Chef’s Food Trip to the Philippines project, which featured three Filipino-American chefs, who explored Filipino cuisine through a two-week expedition to key culinary destinations in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

Participating US-based Fil-Am chefs include 2019 James Beard Awards’ Best Chef for the Mid-Atlantic, Tom Cunanan of the famed Washington, DC’s Bad Saint; Charles Olalia, owner and manager of Ma’am Sir, one of GQ’s Magazine’s Best New Restaurants in America for 2019; and chef Grant “Lanai” Tabura, host of food show Cooking Hawaiian Style and winner of Food Network’s The Great Food Truck Race.    

While the recently concluded Chef’s Food Trip was covered by CNN Philippines, Uyking said the DOT is targeting to broaden its reach by working with CNN International next year.

“Then next year, we will be working with CNN International to promote food as well,” Uyking said.

He added that the Chef’s Food Trip project is something that the DOT hopes to continue in the future.

The Chef’s Food Trip project is organized by the DOT in collaboration with three of the country’s leading chefs Margarita Forés, Claude Tayag and Tatung Sarthou.

The project spotlights some of the country’s renowned culinary destinations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, and will feature respected Filipino food advocates along with their town’s most iconic dishes and heritage cuisine and local produce such as Atching Lilian Borromeo, a beacon of Kapampangan cuisine; Bacolod’s eponymous Mang Enting and Ramon Uy Jr. of Fresh Start Organic Farm; Olive and Rex Puentespina of Malagos Farmhouse;  and Davao-based restaurateur Carmina del Rosario of Mindanao Butchers and Company.

“This is the perfect occasion for us to institutionalize Filipino cuisine and flavors that can proudly stand side by side with other cherished cuisines of the world,” Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat earlier said.

“Going back to their roots will certainly inspire these leading Fil-Am chefs to lend their voices and talent to raise the world’s perception and taste towards Filipino dishes,” she said.

Apart from the Chef’s Food Trip project, other initiatives of the DOT focused on culinary tourism include the Eats. More Fun in the Philippines campaign and the Kain Na! Food and travel fair.

Earlier this year, the DOT launched the Eats. More Fun in the Philippines campaign, for which it partnered with local fast food chain Jollibee to promote uniquely Filipino cuisine.

“We feel that this is an opportune time to put the spotlight on Filipino food and flavors –and we’re more than glad to share the same sentiment with the country’s number one fast food chain, Jollibee.

And through this campaign we’ll highlight the uniquely Pinoy dishes that will make our country a prime food destination for travelers all over the globe,” Puyat earlier said.

The campaign features an omnibus audio-visual presentation showcasing the country’s rich cuisine and dining culture.

The AVP headlines notable chefs, Chef JP Anglo and Filipino-American Celebrity Chef Jordan Andino, and YouTube creator and comedian Mikey Bustos.

Moreover, the Kain Na! is organized through a partnership between the DOT and Ayala Malls. It was first launched last year, in various locations across the country such as Bacolod, Albay, Cebu, Laguna, among others.

The Iloilo leg of the food and travel fair was recently held over the weekend at Shops at Atria in Iloilo City.

Earlier editions of the culinary fair were previously launched this year, particularly in Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City, Alabang Town Center in Muntinlupa, the Ayala Technohub in Baguio City and in Ayala Centerio Mall in Cagayan de Oro.