PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Tourism Trinidad Limited (TTL) joined the rest of the global tourism family in a campaign launched by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to promote gastronomy as an essential component of tourism and the overall tourist product offer.
This gastronomic project is part of the #TravelTomorrow campaign that seeks to highlight the fundamental and enduring value of tourism, including the culinary heritage of UNWTO member countries.
The UNWTO #TravelTomorrow campaign aims to show how culinary heritage gives people a strong sense of belonging and brings a touch of local flavours to their homes to keep the dream of future travel alive. With the lifting of many COVID-19 restrictions across several countries in the world, people are now finally able to share a meal with friends and family, indulging in one of life’s most pleasurable activities – that of eating food.
The video of Lopinot pastelle preparation epitomises the indigenous ingredients that are part and parcel of Trini pastelles, preservation of culinary traditions and parang music that is synonymous with the community”.
In support of the UNWTO’s #TravelTomorrow campaign, chefs from around the world, shared their local recipes, giving us a taste of what to expect when we travel again, and highlighting the unique potential of gastronomy tourism.
As part of the project, each member country highlighted its most famous national dish, which is being promoted through UNWTO’s official website through video material, photos, and original recipes.
Tourism Trinidad selected the unique signature Christmas dish of pastelles which resonates with our indigenous and Spanish heritage and was in sync with the stated UNWTO premise that the signature dish must reflect the culture, heritage, traditions and sense of belonging of a community. Pastelles and parang have a way of bringing people, traditions, and communities closer together.
Chief executive Officer (Ag.) of Tourism Trinidad, Heidi Alert, explained that “gastronomy tourism has the strong potential to economically empower the most vulnerable groups, such as women, youth, and indigenous and rural communities”.
Alert went on to add that “Lopinot was such a natural choice for this project as the community possesses such picturesque beauty, a wealth of history and a rich authentic cultural heritage that are reflective of the heart of tourism”.
Latin American and Caribbean combine refreshing bites with slow-cooked traditional dishes, offering a cuisine full of touches that never cease to surprise our taste buds. A major component of history, tradition and identity, gastronomy has also become a major motivation to visit this region.
