Exploring Nasugbuenos Knowledge on Food Heritage: An Input to Culinary Tourism

After the declaration of the Nasugbu as Special Tourism Zone in August 2007; the town of Nasugbu blossomed into an all in one destination and started captivating a string of local and foreign tourists alike. Amassing 200,000 tourists out of the province’s 1 million tourists posted in 2017; as reported by the Batangas Tourism Officers Association, Nasugbu’s drawing power appears to be very promising. Effective product development and branding strategies are now crucial in order for the town to maintain its momentum. In response to this pressing need, this study delved into the knowledge of Nasugbuenos on local food heritage as a prelude to more in-depth research on Nasugbu’s Culinary tourism potential. It also explored the identification of foods that may be authentic representations of the town’s rich culture and history. Employing the descriptive method of research with a survey questionnaire as the data gathering instrument, it was further revealed that Kainan sa Dalampasigan’s Bilao, a restaurant best-seller, prepared using a family recipe perfected since the 70s, ranked 1st as the most preferred traditional food. Likewise, through Analysis of Variance, the study further disclosed that there is a significant difference in the level of knowledge on food heritage among the 382 respondents when grouped according to their profile variables. ‘Insights from this research may present a new perspective on Nasugbu’s Culinary Tourism and the practicality of its utilization, which may give the town a sturdier stance towards competitiveness and marketability.

Keywords –Local traditional Food, food heritage, Culinary Tourism, Nasugbu, Batangas