State of Yucatan Bets on Its Gastronomy as a Vehicle of Tourism Development

More Than 12,000 People Enjoyed the First Edition of Sabores de Yucatán
Yucatan became the gastronomic epicenter of Latin America, thus confirming that it is a first-class destination for hosting major events

Mérida, Yucatán, November 18, 2022.– The state of Yucatan has cenotes, archeology, farms, colonial cities, beaches, jungle, a living ancestral culture, infrastructure, security. However, it is its gastronomy that offers the incredible opportunity to its promote tourism, narrating its diversity, its past and its present.

This week, the Ministry of Tourism of the State of Yucatan (Sefotur), headed by Michelle Fridman Hirsch, Minister of Tourism of the State of Yucatan, bet directly on this idea as it hosted this year’s Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants and the first edition of the SABORES DE YUCATÁN Festival. The festival exposed Yucatecan gastronomy to more than 12,000 people, making it clear that gastronomy in general is an engine for tourism recovery and specifically, that the Yucatecan culinary offer can compete with top-level culinary events.

With a diverse and authentic offer, Yucatán demonstrated that it has become a gastronomic destination par excellence, accompanied by an extensive program of activities, which included a wide variety of options, attendees were able to enjoy from the Mercadito Sabores, in Paseo de Montejo that it brought together 58 Yucatecan producers who were able to show their products made from ingredients endemic to the region, such as honey, habanero, sour orange, henequen, among others, to more than 4,300 people who visited this space; 3 Gastronomic Circuits attended by more than 600 people with their “gastronomic passport” and with the participation of 21 restaurants from the Center of Mérida. Also, the Tours through Cantinas and Tap Rooms, were carried out by 164 people; the Garden Sabores in Mercado 60, brought together around 2,000 people throughout the weekend who enjoyed the great variety of food and live music; in the 6-handed Dinners, where the talent of local, national and international chefs came together for which 15 restaurants participated and served more than 827 diners; In addition, 160 people walked through the traditional markets and other points in the Market Tours that were offered free of charge to Festival attendees.

Also, within the facilities of Casona Minaret, 19 Workshops and Tastings were held for 760 people and an Academic Program, with 10 presentations and conferences in which some of the most renowned culinary talents in the world participated, including local and national chefs, who gathered at the festival to share knowledge and reflections on gastronomy in front of more than 2,000 people.

Those attending the festival were able to visit the Gastronomic Circuits on streets 47, 55 and 60, making use of the Electric Buggy, which reported that approximately 800 people enjoyed the journey through the streets of the city to reach their preferred circuit.

All of this was possible thanks to the participation of local producers, chefs, and traditional cooks, who shared their knowledge and flavors with more than 12,000 people included in all the activities of the SABORES DE YUCATÁN Festival and the celebration of Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants, which was held for the first time in Yucatan, bringing together more than 180 local, national and international chefs, between both events.

In this regard, Minister Fridman Hirsch commented that this type of event has allowed Yucatán to not only capture a significant economic benefit through tourism and promote the entity worldwide – it has also allowed for an exchange of experiences and knowledge of great value.

She stressed that tourism and the restaurant industry should be tools that shorten social gaps, that mitigate food waste in a hungry world, that promote local and responsible consumption, that preserve and regenerate the environment.

“In the hands of each one of us is building a future attached to sustainability and inclusion,” concluded the official.

It should be noted that the presence of internationally recognized chefs for these meetings drew the attention of locals and visitors, as well as gourmet experts who gathered to enjoy the different events to meet their idols, but in turn, awakened the interest of the media from Mexico and other countries, receiving a total of 140 representatives of the media and opinion leaders, who were able to enjoy the wonders of Yucatan, its gastronomy, the riches of its land, culture, customs and spaces, where they managed to learn a little more about the tourist and culinary offer of Yucatan.