UN Urges Establishment Of Gastronomy Education Center in PH

The United Nations Tourism, formerly known as the World Tourism Organization (WTO), has recommended establishing a gastronomy education center in the Philippines to promote Filipino cuisine globally and develop gastronomy tourism as an economic driver.

Highlighted during the event was the need to promote Filipino cuisine, which remains niche compared to other globally popular cuisines. I Photo: UN Tourism

UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Polikashvili suggested that Cebu could be an ideal location for the center. He emphasized the importance of education in tourism and the potential for creating more jobs by developing gastronomy tourism.

Polikashvili highlighted the need to promote Filipino cuisine, which remains niche compared to other globally popular cuisines.

Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco expressed openness to discussions about the proposed center, noting that the Department of Tourism (DOT) is working on a five-year national gastronomy tourism strategy. Frasco underscored the economic potential of food tourism and the rich diversity of Filipino cuisine.

Idoia Calleja, Director of Masters and Courses at the Basque Culinary Center (BCC) in Spain, expressed interest in collaborating with the proposed Philippine center, highlighting the importance of education in gastronomy, health, sustainability, and food waste management.