Hoteliers are being urged to increase collaboration with local farmers in an effort to increase the sustainability of the Antiguan tourism product.
The call was made at the prize giving ceremony for the recently concluded Mango Pineapple Culinary Competition held last Saturday at the Antigua and Barbuda Hotel Training Institute.
The culinary competition in its 11th year saw 12 chefs representing hotels and restaurants across the island using locally grown mangoes as well as the world renowned Antigua Black Pineapple to prepare an entree` and desert of their choice.
During his feature remarks Tourism Minister the Hon. Asot A. Michael highlighted the importance of the creation of linkages between the agricultural and tourism sectors. “If truth be told today, collaboration between the Ministries of Agriculture and Tourism and the people that we have in this industry has made it meaningful for both parties. No doubt when we understand the importance of Tourism in this country to our economy and Agriculture to our sustainable development, we will soon realize that this is not just another festival”, said Minister Michael.
He continued that, “there is a set policy in place where we encourage our hotels towards using more of local farmers produce and farmers in this country are very keen on planting more of what we and our visitors eat…this has an impact on the industry which provides vital needed foreign exchange savings to our country as well as bringing to the world the Antiguan and Barbudan flavor for which we can all attest is simply the best!
Naomi Thomas of Ana’s on the Beach walked away with the top prize at this year’s competition with Ashley Ashterman of Jumby Bay Resort and Jermaine Samuels of the Galley Bay Resort taking the second and third places respectively.
Lemuel Duberry received the Madeline McComas special award for past Masters.
The Culinary competition organized and executed by the Ministry of Tourism with support from the Ministry of Agriculture is a precursor to the annual Mango Festival to be held on July 24 th and 25 th 2016 at the Botanical Gardens.