Young participants in El Salvador’s Gastro-Lab Surf City program will present an exhibition and tasting of their culinary creations this Friday, highlighting the skills, creativity, and professional training that are helping shape the country’s growing tourism and hospitality industry.

The event will feature a live culinary demonstration attended by Minister of Tourism Morena Valdez, World Food Programme (WFP) Acting Executive Director Carl Skau, and WFP Country Director María Guimarães, underscoring the collaboration between the Government of El Salvador and international partners to promote workforce development and economic opportunities.

Gastro-Lab Surf City is designed to equip Salvadoran youth with practical skills in gastronomy, customer service, and hospitality, preparing them for employment in restaurants, hotels, and tourism-related businesses across the country’s coastal region, where visitor demand continues to expand.

The initiative forms part of the government’s broader strategy under President Nayib Bukele to strengthen human capital in key economic sectors while supporting the continued growth of Surf City, one of El Salvador’s flagship tourism development projects. By investing in specialized training, the program seeks to create new employment opportunities and enhance the quality of services offered to both domestic and international visitors.

The culinary showcase reflects El Salvador’s commitment to combining education, innovation, and tourism as drivers of sustainable economic development, while giving young Salvadorans a platform to demonstrate the professional skills acquired through the Gastro-Lab Surf City program.