THE flourishing culinary tourism industry of Negros Occidental is getting a boost through the upcoming World Street Food (WSF) Congress.
Cristine Mansinares, provincial supervising tourism operations officer, said Negros Occidental is one of the six provinces in the Philippines to be featured during the five-day event at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City starting May 31.
She said representatives of WSF Congress led by its founder K.F. Seetoh on Sunday capped their three-day "food exploration" in the province.
“They were able to explore the street food culture in the cities of Bacolod, Talisay, Silay and Victorias as well as Manapla town," Mansinares said, adding that “it's a big boost to our culinary tourism.”
Among the establishments and food tourism sites in the province visited by the group included El Ideal and the public market in Silay City, Peñalosa Farms in Victorias City, and Fresh Start Organic and Natural in Bacolod City.
“Our participation in the WSF Congress can be a significant platform to share our unique street food heritage to the world,” Mansinares also said.
The Department of Tourism in Western Visayas had earlier said that Negros Occidental has a growing potential in terms of culinary tourism.
It is one of the areas which the province should further promote in order to attract more local and domestic tourists, the agency added.
