International Gastronomy Fair to Showcase Importance of Gastronomy Tourism

As gastronomy-related experiences continue to become an increasingly important part of why people travel, a new tourism fair is gaining steam that was developed to showcase the culinary experiences available around the world.

The fair, known as FIBEGA, brings together thousands of destination representatives, hoteliers, restaurateurs, bar owners and more to present a tantalizing and diverse preview of international gastronomy from some of the world’s most coveted tourist regions.

This year’s fair will take place in Miami and is expected to include representatives from Israel, Guatemala, Spain, Morocco and Ecuador, to name a few of the confirmed countries.

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The 2019 gathering is already on track to surpass last year’s Buenos Aires FIBEGA, which attracted more than 22,000 attendees from around the world and featured in excess of 800 global exhibitors.

The fair agenda includes numerous congresses, panel discussions, networking opportunities and even cooking demonstrations.

“FIBEGA intends to become the most important networking fair in the tourism and gastronomy sector—where destinations, enterprises and global institutions will meet for business, development and tourism,” according to a statement issued by fair organizers.

The first day of the fair, May 10, will be exclusively for gastronomy and tourism industry professionals. The final two days, May 11 and 12, will be open for both industry professionals and consumers interested in gastronomy and travel.

“There is no place else like this for the public in general, where they can have this kind of experience with food from so many different countries,” Javier Perez Palencia, CEO and chair of the board for FIBEGA Miami, told TravelPulse during an interview. “I don’t know of many events or shows where people can travel to so many different countries by visiting just one place.”

According to the United Nation’s World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), more than 25 million American travelers visit international destinations each year, and culinary tourism is identified as one of the top interests among those globetrotters.

Palencia said FIBEGA allows destinations to showcase the variety of gastronomy-related experiences available within their borders, particularly offerings beyond what travelers might expect.

"In Mexico, it's not only about tacos and burritos," Palencia said. "They have high-quality gastronomy and great quality chefs."

This year’s fair will take place at the Miami Convention Center.