THE Philippines has snagged the privilege of hosting the prestigious World Association of Chefs’ Societies (WorldChefs) Asian Presidents Forum next year, which will help put a spotlight on Philippine cuisine and the country’s culinary experts.
The winning bid was announced on Saturday at the close of the Philippine Culinary Cup at the World Food Expo 2022 at the SMX Convention Center. Chef Willment Leong, Asian Continental Director of WorldChefs, said, “The WorldChefs Asian President represented by any one country organizes the Asian Presidents Forum and also the Asian Chefs Challenge, where we select the best of the best in Asia to compete in the finals of the World Congress. Hereby, I would also like to announce that the Philippines Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) has won the bid to organize the [forum] in 2023!”
The Asian Presidents Forum will bring together 30 delegates from the different Asia Pacific chef associations, with the conference expected to generate about 3,000 participants, including chefs and young chefs participating in the programs and competitions, competition judges, spectators and exhibit attendees.
The three-day event dovetails with the advocacy of Tourism Secretary-designate Christina Garcia Frasco to promote food tourism in the Philippines, and propel Filipino cuisine to the global arena.
Ready for more MICE events
TPB Chief Operating Officer Ma. Anthonette C. Velasco Allones told the BusinessMirror, “Our triumphant bid to host the 2023 Asian WorldChefs Forum is an affirmation of our readiness to stage MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) events in the country. It also positions our leadership in the region in curating culinary tourism while enabling our budding chefs with opportunities to benchmark with the best of the best.”
She added, “The TPB is committed to pursue our campaign to put the Philippines back at the center of the MICE global map.”
Just this April, the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its marketing arm, the TPB, successfully held the 21st World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Manila.
According to a brief provided by the TPB, the WorldChefs Asian Presidents Forum is meant to foster camaraderie between chefs in the Asian Pacific region. The event is hosted every two years, with the last forum held in Bangkok in 2019.
For young and professional chefs
Similar to the WorldChefs Congress & Expo, the Asian Presidents Forum will include programs where distinguished speakers will present the latest gastronomical trends, sustainability practices that are in line with the United Nations Development Programme, and culinary education. Other events include competitions for the local and international young and professional chefs, and an exhibit for local and foreign suppliers. There will also be guided tours of the city and nearby outlying provinces focusing on farm tourism and food production that will be offered to the chef participants.
“Participating chefs will have a chance to see the local markets, dine in our different restaurants, and get a taste of the unique dimensions and diversity of our cuisine,” added Velasco-Allones.
In 2018, the Department of Tourism, and its marketing arm, the TPB, launched an ambitious MICE Roadmap 2030 aimed at increasing the country’s MICE revenues to some P25 billion by 2030, from P4.6 billion in 2016. Its targets have been somewhat derailed, however, by the Covid-19 travel restrictions around the world.
Image credits: TPB