Philippine Tourism attache Consuelo Jones, Philippine Ambassador Australia Belen Fule Anota and Shangri-La Hotel Sydney GM Franz Donhauser
	'Halo-halo' has gone on to become popular in the rest of South East Asia

With the “It’s more fun in the Philippines” tourism campaign successfully underway, and with more people traveling to its shores than ever before, the Philippines is looking to its cuisine to further promote travel to the country. 

While most people are already well acquainted with Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese and other Asian cuisine, if you were to ask a non-Filipino what constituted a typical meal in the Philippines, you would likely be given a blank expression.

It is therefore not unreasonable to assume that the Philippines has perhaps the most to gain from a tourism perspective by inviting those unfamiliar with its unique fare to the dining table, and hopefully onto experiencing the country’s food first-hand.

At the official launch of Philippine Food Week at the Shangri-La Hotel Sydney, Philippines Department of Tourism attaché Consuela Jones told e-Travel Blackboard that the government was investing “more in tourism than ever before”. And with Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino arriving in Australia this week (staying at the Shangri-La), the Department of Tourism will be looking to take full advantage of media interest in the South East Asian nation.

Speaking at the event, co-sponsored by Philippine Airlines, San Miguel Beer and Boab Tree wines, Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Belen Fule Anota said she was pleased to see one bus in Sydney already bearing the country’s tourism tagline, ‘It’s More Fun in the Philippines’.

“Come. Savour,” she said, inviting guests of the event to eat, and from a broader perspective, Australians to the Philippines.

Offering specially prepared cuisine by Shangri-La Makati executive sous chef, Gene Del Prado, the Shangri-La Sydney will host the Philippine Food Festival until 28 October.