DOT-6 eyes boosting ‘culinary street food’

By Carlson B. Alelis

The Department of Tourism (DOT)-6 is looking to improve the “culinary street food” of Western Visayas to attract more tourists.

DOT-6 Regional Director Helen Catalbas said their office aims to make tourism more inclusive.

“We eat street food when we go to Korea, Japan, Hongkong, and Thailand, so, why not convert our tourists into eaters of street food,” she said.

DOT-6 will work together with the Iloilo City Tourism Office to strengthen culinary street food training.

Catalbas said the region has the challenge to offer food to about 8 million locals and 5.8 million tourists.

“Let’s produce more and prepare food more, not only for our locals but for our tourists,” she said.

This comes after GrabFood’s launching in Iloilo City, with services extending to the towns of Pavia and Oton, last week. GrabFood is a food delivery service mobile application.

During its launching in Iloilo City, Grabfood showed a video wherein they are seen partnering with street food vendors.

According to Catalbas, DOT-6 seeks to attract some 8 million tourists before the end of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term. (PIA)