The Philippines will host the 2026 UN Tourism World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, reinforcing its growing status as a global culinary destination, Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said Monday.
The event, expected to draw participants from over 150 countries for its 10th edition, highlights gastronomy tourism as a key segment of the Department of Tourism’s National Tourism Development Plan 2023–2028.
Frasco cited the country’s suitability to host the forum, calling the Philippines “the perfect venue…where the world can gather to share, taste and celebrate food as a bridge between cultures.”
She noted the recent arrival of the Michelin Guide, which has showcased Filipino chefs and restaurants internationally, as evidence of the nation’s emergence as a culinary hub.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili praised the Philippines’ selection, saying the country “demonstrated leadership, institutional readiness and commitment to advancing tourism through gastronomy.”
Pololikashvili added that the forum will be a unique platform to showcase the nation’s leadership in the sector and to shape the global dialogue on sustainable and inclusive food systems.
Gastronomy is an increasingly vital component of the Philippine tourism industry. According to the Philippine Tourism Satellite Account, food and beverage services accounted for 8.04 percent of tourism direct gross value added in 2024 and 17.1 percent of inbound tourism expenditure.
The sector supported 6.75 million jobs, or 13.8 percent of national employment, many in food and hospitality.
The Philippines previously hosted the first UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific in Cebu in 2024, which concluded with the “Cebu Call to Action on Gastronomy Tourism as a Driver for Sustainable Development.”
