NIHOTOUR to host 3rd edition of gastronomy festival in June

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), said it will host the 3rd edition of the biggest Gastronomy Festival in Abuja .
This was contained in a statement signed and issued in Abuja, by Director Media and Public Relations, Ahmed Mohammed Sule.
According to the statement, the gastronomy festival is scheduled to hold at the International Conference Centre on the 16th and 17th of June, 2023, tagged Culinary Arts: The Gate Way to Growing Tourism Destination.
The Gastronomy Festival is organized by the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), is targeted at the upskilling of Nigerian gastronomes on the essence of the preparation and presentation of traditional Nigerian cuisines to improve the expertise of practitioners in the tourism sector.
Speaking on the highlights of the Gastronomy Festival,
Director General and Chief Executive Officer of NIHOTOUR, Nura Kangiwa, said the event will feature amongst others, exhibition of indigenous gastronomy by exhibitors prominent among which are, NIHOTOUR, which as usual, showcase indigenous Nigerian cuisines from the six-geopolitical zones of the country.
He said this year’s Gastronomy Festival is the third consecutive food and beverage exhibition and sampling event annually organized by NIHOTOUR since 2021.
Leading local food franchises, international cuisines showcase by foreign missions, Jollof War by select west African chefs, and the investiture of NIHOTOUR Fellowships on individuals who have contributed to the development of the nation’s Tourism and Hospitality sector.
Likewise, a masterclass for members of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Travel Writers (ANJET) facilitated by the director general of the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), Otunba Runsewe, the managing director of News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Buki Ponle and ex-NTA director, Peter Igho.
Gastronomy Fair, is an opportunity to address the dearth of culinary artistry in the country.
“The festival provides one of the best opportunities for hospitality and tourism stakeholders, students and enthusiasts to have hands-on learning and perspectives on how to sustain the tourism destinations using gastronomy festivals as promotional tools”.
The statement noted that since the festival started 2021 it has experience over 5,000 visitors including local industry stakeholders and the diplomatic community in Nigeria such as Ethiopia, China and Spain participate showcasing their countries food culture and processes of preparation from the farm to the table.