The Valley, Anguilla, October 20, 2022: The small island of Anguilla was the great hero at the TTG Travel Experience 2022, the international event dedicated to the tourism sector held last week at the Rimini Exhibition Centre in Italy. Earlier this month, the destination was awarded the prestigious Gist Travel Food Award – the annual award that the Italian Tourist Press Group dedicates to Italian and foreign excellence in the food and wine sector – for “Best Food and Wine Event 2022 – Worldwide (outside of Italy)”.
Particular attention this year was given to the sustainability of competing projects, recognized not only as best practice in the agri-food sector but also in light of its positive impact on local communities and its role in protecting local traditions and cultural uniqueness.
The jury’s selection of the island of Anguilla for this coveted prize was based on the following justification: “The award goes to a festival that saw, last May, the participation of chefs from the island of Anguilla and around the world — five days that showcased the rich gastronomic tradition of Anguilla, based on fresh local products presented with an international flair. The goal was to confirm the island’s status as the culinary capital of the Caribbean verified by the high level of its restaurants, offering both fine dining and traditional cuisine.”
“The effort to support the new generations of local chefs is also commendable. The young chefs were able to work alongside their more experienced colleagues and, with part of the proceeds from the event, they will have access to training courses for both cooking and hospitality.”
The award was accepted by Stefano De Paoli, the Anguilla Tourist Board’s representative in Italy. “I am very proud to receive this award, which I consider the due recognition of the efforts made by the restaurateurs and chefs of Anguilla, as well as the organizers of the festival, who brought the small Caribbean Island, known throughout the world for its pristine white beaches and crystal-clear waters, to the current status of culinary capital of the Caribbean region. Thanks to these efforts, Anguilla leads the world in the number of restaurants per inhabitant and per square kilometer”.
Sabrina Talarico, President of GIST Gruppo Italiano Stampa Turistica (Italian Tourist Press Association), and Elena Bianco, President of the TFA Award, announced the winners of seven different categories of excellence in food and wine tourism in Italy and worldwide, voted by a panel of 11 jurors. The GIST Travel Food Award rewards the entities that are leading the way in looking to a sustainable future, a concept that is increasingly permeating the world of food and wine tourism.
Now in its 5th edition, the “Travel Food Award” is organized by GIST, with the support of ENIT, the Italian National Tourism Organization. It aims to promote food and wine tourism as a form of cultural expression, increasingly sought after by tourists and travelers, as the food and wine heritage of a territory can exert a strong appeal, along with the landscape and culture of a destination. The award is intended to encourage those destinations that demonstrate a commitment to the enhancement and preservation of their gastronomic and cultural heritage through the promotion of an environmentally friendly gourmand tourism.
“At the next edition of ACE, scheduled from May 3 to 6, 2023, we will involve the excellence of the Italian Food and Wine industry, taking advantage of an international and highly prestigious audience for the island of Anguilla, which is increasingly known as a destination for lovers of good food as well as for its beautiful beaches,” said Stefano De Paoli. “Most of the tourists who visit this Caribbean island come from the USA, but Italians are in the first place from continental Europe, confirming the popularity of the unique blend of Caribbean beaches, pristine nature and good food with our visitors.”
L-R: Stefano De Paoli, Anguilla Tourist Board, Italy; Sabrina Talarico, President of GIST Gruppo Italiano Stampa Turistica (Italian Tourist Press Association); Elena Bianco, President of the TFA