Singapore is set to stage biggest World Cuisines Show in Asia

SINGAPORE — The World Cuisines Show 2008 (WCS’08), to be staged in Singapore from July 25-27, 2008, is a global marketplace where countries around the world gather under one roof to showcase their national cuisines and cultural activities. National...

SINGAPORE — The World Cuisines Show 2008 (WCS’08), to be staged in Singapore from July 25-27, 2008, is a global marketplace where countries around the world gather under one roof to showcase their national cuisines and cultural activities. National tourism authorities from more than 130 countries have been invited to participate in this inaugural international event.

Globally, gastronomic tourism is coming up as a form of special interest tourism in which food and beverages are the main motivating factors for travel to a desired destination. Studies have shown that food plays an important part in the holiday experience of travellers, consciously or unconsciously.

Tourism authorities around the world are recognising the potential of gastronomic tourism as a powerful tool to identify and promote places, regions or entire countries.

Global trends have identified that gastronomic tourists are looking for a more participatory style of holiday experience, which satisfies their interest in food and beverages and contributes to their personal development and social status or ‘cultural capital’. There is a shift from ‘passive observation’ towards ‘interactive involvement’, whereby the visitor comes into close contact with locals and their way of life.

Increasingly food and beverages are becoming the main reason for travel. The challenge is to combine food, beverage and culture into a total tourism experience which is authentic and truly reflects the local and unique flavours of that particular country.

According to Singapore Food Expo (SFE) the longest running local food show in Singapore, visitor-ship has been exceeding 500,000 and in 2006, they have registered an all time high of 720,000 visitors.

» more

Are you the conference organizer?

Report a Problem With This Conference