Culinary tourism is a very vibrant industry world-wide and Barbados has capitalised on this niche market.
This was expressed by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Donna Cadogan, while addressing the 1st Caribbean Food, Hotel and Restaurant Exhibition which got underway, yesterday.
The three-day trade event being held at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre seeks to uncover the latest trends, products and services in the market as well as the industry’s vision for the future.
“It is no secret that food has become a significant aspect of the visitor experience when looking for a destination. The visitor not only desires to experience quality food but also local authentic culture,” she pointed out.
The P.S. shared with industry stakeholders that her Ministry supports the development of the culinary arts, noting that through its entities, many apprentices have been able to develop and successfully master their skills in food preparation, presentation and promotion.
“This is in large measure due to the tireless efforts of the Barbados Hospitality Institute which must be commended for the excellent work that it has been doing within the tourism industry over the years by producing students of such high calibre that they gave secured positions in international hotels… The Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA) must also be commended for its in marketing and developing the culinary products,” she said.
Cadogan, who officially opened the inaugural event, commended the organisers, AME Trade Ltd for choosing Barbados to host the very significant exhibition – bringing together companies from the region, United States and Europe.
Carib Food & Hospitality, a multi-dimensional event features an international trade show and salon culinaire competition, where amateur and professional chefs, pastry chefs, cooks and bakers will display culinary skills and techniques.
Specialised workshops will also take place focusing on how to run a profitable hospitality business through cost control and purchasing; utilising local produce in your restaurant and hotel; doing business in Barbados – business facilitation; the Caribbean as a food tourism destination – getting there; and health and safety techniques in food preparation.
Fine Foods Inc. a local distributor of Confectionery, Non-Alcoholic beverages, and Dairy products, welcomed the event.
Sales Manager, Martin Wade, said that the four-year-old company is supplying Barbados with good products at low prices.
“We are not compromising on quality… We are sourcing our products from Holland and the United Kingdom where we know we can get proper products for the Barbadian public at a reasonable cost,” he indicated. (TL)