NITAS pushes for Pinoy food tourism promotions

CEBU, Philippines — The Network of Independent Travel Agents (NITAS) pushed for the aggressive hype of Pinoy food tourism in different regions in the country.

NITAS chairman Robert Lim Joseph made this proposal in his recent meeting with Department of Tourism (DOT) secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat amid the controversy of Madrid Fusion Manila, which cost the government P120 million a year for five years.

According to Joseph, instead of spending the government's money for a three-day event, promoting foreign food, the tourism department should make use of the people's money instead to promote Pinoy food to the international market, taking advantage of the growing number of travelers who purposely visit a destination to "taste" the culture, apart from sight-seeing.

Now on its third year, the pricey Madrid Fusion Manila started in the leadership of then DOT secretary Ramon Jimenez Jr.

Already, the government spent at least P240 million in the last two years in running this food congress. Reportedly, the event contract is locked for five years.

Madrid Fusion Manila is the only Asian edition of the culinary food event, which is regarded as “the single most important international gastronomy congress in the 21st century.” It is a gastronomy event that has been celebrated annually in Madrid, Spain since 2003.

The Asian edition was intended to put Filipino culinary artists on the map, especially in Europe.

However, Joseph said instead of spending on this kind of expensive promotional events, he proposed that money should be used in promoting food festivals in different regions that will highlight their respective food specialties.

Food tourism, after all is all about the local food culture. Travelers are lured to taste the culture of a destination.

Recently, Puyat announced that the annual international food event Madrid Fusion Manila will not push through this year. Rather it will be moved to April next year.

According to Joseph, this particular event is a waste of government's money, which does not benefit the entire country and promote regional food tourism.

In Cebu for instance, Joseph proposed that DOT could support or initiate an event or program such as "Cebu Food Fiesta," depicting the richness of food culture in Cebu.

This kind of food tourism promotions should be institutionalized in different regions, which will in turn stir attention from the world.