World tapas day celebrates tourism boost

RAFAEL ANSON, the president at the Royal Spanish Academy of Gastronomy, believes an extra 4 million tourists could flock to Spain in 2017 to sample Spanish cuisine.

In the recent light of globalisation the tapas phenomenon has received worldwide recognition and continues to forge a place in the spotlight for Spanish food culture. 

“Spain has managed to secure its gastronomic place at a first class level across the world, offering high levels in quality and creativity,” explained Anson as he insisted that tourists arriving in Spain come to experience the traditional methods of cooking that make up the art of tapas.

With Spain’s food industry currently accounting for 20 per cent of the national GDP, Anson has advocated the incorporation of gastronomy into the educational system, stating “gastronomy is a healthy, sustainable, and communal activity.”

An estimated 15 million tourists are expected to sample the food and culture of Spain this year, a 36 per cent increase when compared to the figures of last year.