Maine Food And Wine Event Harvest On The Harbor, October 23-25, Focused On Culinary Tourism

PORTLAND, Maine - The Convention & Visitors Bureau of Greater Portland (CVB) is focusing on the rising trend in culinary tourism with its three-day food and wine festival, Harvest on the Harbor on Portland's waterfront October 23-25. Targeted at foodies from near and far, the festival will feature large-scale wine and food tasting events, tapings of a syndicated cooking show, intimate seminars and lunches, and a full-day culinary marketplace with cooking demonstrations and cookbook signings by local and national authors. The event concludes with an elaborate five-course Gala Dinner by the Sea on Saturday, October 25.

"Culinary tourism is definitely a growing trend in the country these days with the preponderance of TV shows featuring destination dining and the increasing number of chefs focusing on local ingredients," notes Pat Eltman, director of the Maine Office of Tourism. "Harvest on the Harbor is happening at just the right time in Maine - when the weather is great, the streets aren't too busy, and the local fare is unbeatable. This event will put a spotlight on Maine's impressive restaurant scene while also giving a boost to area businesses during the shoulder season."
The Travel Industry Association of America reports 60% of American leisure travelers say they are at least somewhat interested in taking a trip to engage in culinary activities within the next 12 months. Culinary travelers become excellent marketers of the regions they visit. In fact, according to the Profile of Culinary Travelers, 70% of culinary travelers bring back regional foods, recipes, wines, and more from places they have visited to share with friends and family.

Barbara Whitten, executive director of CVB, comments, "According to the International Culinary Tourism Association, culinary tourists spend $100,000 a minute in the United States. This is money that is spent year-round, not just in restaurants and hotels but in the surrounding businesses as well. It is definitely an area we are placing more focus on, especially considering the high number of nationally recognized restaurants and hotels in Portland."
The three-day event will highlight local chefs, restaurants, food, wines, beers, and products of Maine. For a schedule of events and to purchase tickets, visit www.harvestontheharbor.com. The festival is headquartered at the Ocean Gateway, located at 14 Ocean Gateway Pier/Thames Street on the waterfront in Portland, Maine.

About Harvest on the Harbor:
Harvest on the Harbor is sponsored by Shaw's (title sponsor) and Down East books, magazine, online (media sponsor). Other sponsors include Bill Dodge Auto Group, Olympia Partners, Viking, Portland's Downtown District, Time Warner Cable, Maine Lobster Promotions Council, Wild Blueberry Association of North America, gBritt PR, E. & J. Gallo, the Maine Aquaculture Association and Sawyer & Company/Harmon's & Barton's Florists.