The Department of Tourism (DOT) and the provincial government of Samar launched three new tourism circuits on April 16, 2024 to highlight the province’s rich natural, cultural and gastronomic treasures.
Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco said the Tandaya Trail I, Secret Kitchens of Samar Gastronomy Tour and Mabaysay Cultural River Cruise offer immersive experiences that showcase Samar’s natural beauty, cultural legacy and culinary delights.
The travel circuits offer unique activities that will pique the interests of tourists.
The Tandaya Trail is a day tour package through Samar’s towns of Sta. Rita, Basey and Marabut. It provides participants with river boat rides, kayaking, spelunking, swimming and local cuisine at La Cocina de Marabut.
The Secret Kitchens of Samar Tour (SKoS) is a discovery of Samar’s culinary heritage, of treasured family recipes passed down through generations. This journey unveils the secrets behind Samar’s beloved dishes.
Meanwhile, the Mabaysay Cultural River Cruise is a transformative journey along Samar’s Golden River in Basey. The immersive river expedition is reminiscent of Loboc River cruises in Bohol.
The tourism circuits were established with the collaboration of the Samar LGU and DOT-Region VIII.
Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan emphasized the collaborative efforts of local communities and stakeholders in shaping Samar’s tourism landscape.
“Tandaya Trail I, Secret Kitchens of Samar Gastronomy Tour, and Mabaysay Cultural River Cruise represent a significant milestone in Samar’s tourism development journey. By involving local communities in every stage of tourism development and service provision, we are not only preserving our heritage but also creating opportunities for sustainable livelihoods and economic growth,” she said.
In recognition of Samar’s opulent gastronomic heritage, Frasco invited the province to join the UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Asia and the Pacific to be held in June in Cebu City.
“I am very pleased to announce that the Philippines is hosting, in June of this year, the very first United Nations Tourism Regional Gastronomy Conference. The eyes of the world will be on Filipino food and I extend this invitation to the province of Samar to share to the world the successes that you have had in gastronomy apart from all the other successes that you’ve had in eco-tourism,” Frasco said.