Food Tourism Should Be Prioritized, Says Incoming Tourism Chief

Further development of food tourism is on the table for the incoming administration, according to incoming Department of Tourism secretary Christina Frasco.

“Definitely, food tourism is something that must be given priority and much attention,” Frasco said during an interview with “The Chiefs” over Cignal TV’s One News on Friday night.

She noted how food tourism represents the “amazing quality” of local products and the talent of Filipinos which complement the beauty of the country’s famous tourist sites.

She underscored the importance of local cuisine so that the experience of tourists who come to the Philippines “is multi-sensory, that can satisfy not only their eyes but also their stomachs and senses.”

“That can only come when you are also able to provide food that is very distinct to the region you are visiting,” Frasco said.

Frasco, who ran and won her reelection bid as mayor of Liloan, Cebu, also emphasized the importance of domestic tourism, which kept local resorts and hotels busy during the pandemic.

“I think it is very, very important to look at the potential of the domestic market being able to sustain the tourism in provinces, cities and municipalities, because we have seen as well the improvement and the economic status of local tourists,” she said.

“So, the approach cannot singularly focus on foreign tourists, but also to further develop domestic tourism,” she added.