Photo courtesy: Department of Tourism
The Philippines will host the 2026 United Nations Tourism World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, further cementing its status as an emerging culinary hub.
Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco said hosting the forum highlights the Philippines’ growing leadership in promoting food, culture, and sustainable tourism.
“The Philippines is the perfect venue for the 2026 UN Tourism World Gastronomy Forum– where the world gather to share, taste, and celebrate food as a bridge between cultures,” Frasco said. “This recognition places our country at the forefront of global gastronomy and sustainable tourism.”
The 10th edition of the prestigious forum is expected to draw chefs, tourism leaders, innovators, and advocates from more than 150 countries. The event will explore how gastronomy can drive inclusive growth, sustainability, and cultural preservation.
Frasco said the country’ hosting builds on recent milestones, including the Michelin Guides successful visit to the Philippines, which spotlighted Filipino chefs and restaurants on the word stage. She noted that the event will further advance the Department of Tourism’a efforts to make gastronomy tourism a key pillar of the country’s tourism development strategy.
In 2024, the Philippines hosted the UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific in Cebu, which produced the “Cebu Call to Action on Gastronomy Tourism as a Driver for Sustainable Development.”
“Our 7,641 islands are blessed not only with incredible natural beauty but with a culinary heritage that reflects the heart and soul of the Filipino — creative, diverse, and resilient,” Frasco said. “Through gastronomy, we invite the world to experience the love of our people and the richness of our story.”
Data from the 2024 Philippine Tourism Satellite Account showed that food and beverage services accounted for 8.04% of Tourism Direct Gross Value Added (TDGVA), and 17.1% of inbound tourism expenditure. Tourism-related industries employed about 6.75 million Filipinos last year, or 13.8 percent of total national workforce– many in the culinary and hospitality sectors.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili commended the Philippines for its efforts to promote gastronomy tourism, empower local communities, and preserve culinary traditions.
“The Forum will offer a unique platform to showcase the country’s leadership in gastronomy tourism and to shape global dialogue and cooperation around sustainable and inclusive food and tourism systems,” Pololikashvili said.
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