Marcos pushes for 'gastronomic tourism' to attract tourists

President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. has pushed for ''gastronomic tourism"' to attract more tourists in the Philippines.

Marcos said he wants the world to discover Filipino cuisine.

“Food does not just feed the stomach. Ika nga, it also feeds the soul,” Marcos said in his latest vlog called ''Chibog'' on Sunday.

In the vlog, Marcos responded to questions from netizens, including those about his favorite street food, his and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos' comfort food, and the favorite food of their sons Sandro, Simon and Vinny.

Asked what food or restaurant in Ilocos Norte he would recommend to be given a Michelin Star, he mentioned many delicacies including the dinardaraan, bagnet, empanada, miki and grilled seafood, among others.

Marcos cited the online site TasteAtlas, which included the Philippines in its top 100 countries with the best food; Makati City as one of the best food cities and region in the world; sinigang placed 97th for best dishes; lumpiang shanghai as 93rd for best street food; and “Pinoy cooking” at 33rd spot for best cuisines in the world.

In a statement, Senator Nancy Binay, chairperson of the Senate tourism committee, expressed delight on Marcos' latest vlog acknowledging Filipino street food as a tool in boosting tourism in the Philippines.

She then stressed the need to help the industry to attract tourists through Filipino food, noting that the "authenticity and unpretentious nature" of the country's  street food in every province or region contribute to the Philippines' "rich tapestry of culinary traditions."

"The credit goes to our very creative street hawkers and vendors for transforming simple local ingredients into bold, flavorful, satisfying taste, and meaningful culinary adventure that is truly Pinoy," she noted.

"Dati na po nating sinasabi na tulungan nating iangat at i-level up ang kalidad ng pagkaing Pinoy dahil malaki ang potential ng food tourism, at isa rin itong powerful marketing tool...Our local offerings practically capture the essence of Filipino culture," she added.

(We've already pointed out before that we need to help in leveling up the quality of Filipino food because the potential of food tourism is very huge and this is a powerful marketing tool.)—KG/AOL, GMA Integrated News