PHILTOA Participates in DOT-OPD Validation for Palengke Tours in
Laoag City, Ilocos Norte & San Fernando City, La Union on July 13–15, 2026
The three-day validation explored the integration of public markets as ancillary experiences within existing Food and Gastronomy Tourism itineraries. Activities included market inspections, market-to-table culinary experiences, cooking demonstrations by renowned chefs, visits to local food producers, farms, weaving communities, pottery makers, and other community-based tourism enterprises that showcase the rich culinary heritage of Northern Luzon.
The program also featured Business-to-Business (B2B) engagements between local tourism stakeholders and tour operators, fostering collaboration and identifying opportunities for product development, market readiness, and future packaging of these experiences. At the end of each day, debriefing sessions provided a valuable platform for participants to exchange observations, share assessment and validation insights, discuss operational considerations, and recommend enhancements to further enrich the proposed Palengke Tour experience.
The assessment focused on destination readiness, visitor experience, sustainability, accessibility, and the overall feasibility of incorporating Palengke Tours into existing tour packages. Rather than being standalone products, these curated market experiences are envisioned to complement cultural, heritage, and gastronomic tours, providing travelers with authentic local encounters while creating greater economic opportunities for market vendors, farmers, artisans, and MSMTEs.
PHILTOA is honored to support the Department of Tourism in developing innovative tourism products that promote sustainable tourism, preserve local culture, and strengthen community participation in the country’s tourism value chain.
Watch out for PHILTOA’s upcoming LakBAYANIHAN Caravan featuring Laoag and La Union, where you can personally experience these curated food, heritage, and market-to-table journeys that celebrate the best of Northern Luzon.
Together with the Department of Tourism, we continue to champion authentic Filipino experiences—one market, one community, and one destination at a time.
