The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has arranged a food contest called "Locallicious: Eat Local Meet Local" as part of the agency's plan to promote local gastronomy and communities.
The contest launched earlier this month, with the 20 winning applicants able to sell their trips to tourists. The 20 best food trips designed by interested tour guides will be judged at the Thailand Food Tourism Mart to be held at Megabangna mall in September, and they will be allowed to sell those trips.
Noppadon Pakprot, deputy governor for domestic marketing at TAT, said food travel has become a mainstream part of its national tourism plans for 2018-2020. The agency is pushing storytelling aspect of each community, including history, culture and way of life including gastronomy.
Tourists are looking for new local foods, engaging with stories, and willing to learn about local customs and support their products, he said.
TAT expects the campaign will encourage a new generation to visit secondary provinces and contribute income of more than 300 million baht.
The campaign promotes tourism in 55 secondary provinces, using food as a tactic to promote destinations in each province. TAT wants to develop food as a selling point in order to support local tourism.
