International Gastronomy Forum opens in Macao to discuss “The Potential of Gastronomy”

The “International Gastronomy Forum, Macao 2018” opened on January 18th in a ceremony presided by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Alexis Tam, and the Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Getachew Engida. Organized by the Macao Government Tourism Office, the forum brought to town representatives of 17 UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy to connect with and discuss around the theme of “The Power of Gastronomy” for a sustainable development.

The forum is one of the first highlight activities of the “2018 Macao Year of Gastronomy” launched on January 17th, kicking-off a full range of initiatives locally and internationally to celebrate the designation and forge Macao as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

Forum gathers Cities of Gastronomy, academics and professionals in the field
The forum opened at the Macau Tower Convention and Entertainment Center with the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government and Chairman of the Application of Macao, China for the UCCN Committee, Alexis Tam, and the Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Getachew Engida, featuring as the main officiating guests that spoke at the opening of the forum.

Also present at the opening were the Deputy Mayor of Östersund, Sweden, Anders Edvinsson, the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ip Peng Kin, the Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, the President of the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), Fanny Vong, the Director of Division of Sciences, Culture and CI of the National Commission of China for UNESCO, Shen Yubiao, the President of the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macao, Chan Chak Mo, the Deputy Director of Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Leong Vai Kei, among others.


Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Alexis Tam, hands token of appreciation to Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Getachew Engida

Participants of the forum also include representatives  of 17 Creative Cities of Gastronomy from around the world; the China Cuisine Association; members of the Tourism Development Committee; the Committee of Cultural Industries; the Application of Macao, China for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Committee; local associations academics, professionals in the field, among others, in a total of around 300 people.

At the occasion, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, stated that “we hope to create new synergies in the network by bringing in our contribution as a city transforming itself into a world centre of tourism and leisure, and a platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in trade and in culture. Macao is also a regional hub with great potentials. By placing Macao in a regional context with major national projects, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, we aim at working with our regional partners to recognize creativity and gastronomy as elements of regional innovation strategies.”

The Deputy Director-General of UNESCO, Getachew Engida, remarked that “the designation of Macao as a Creative City of Gastronomy bears witness to its continuing commitment to promoting a culture-centered model of urban development, particularly through its rich culinary traditions and vibrant contemporary gastronomic scene,” highlighting that the International Gastronomy Forum, “with its diverse programme aimed at showcasing the world’s vast culinary heritage, will further foster gastronomy as a means to make cities attractive, inclusive and sustainable for all their inhabitants.”

Presentations and discussions on how to forge ahead as a Creative City of Gastronomy
After the opening ceremony, the forum proceeds with an overview about the network and the vision ahead of UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) and the Cities of Gastronomy by the coordinator of the Cities of Gastronomy Group, Dag Hartman. Two sessions follow, one of which a case study sharing and discussion between higher education institutions of the Creative Cities of Östersund (Sweden), Jeonju (Korea) and Macao, about The Relationships among Gastronomy, Creativity, Culture and Education. Another one is a Celebrity Chefs Session gathering famous chefs from Spain, Mainland China and Macao to share their success stories and cultural inspirations. The forum closes with a Food and Beverage Industry Leaders Face to Face, bringing together heads from Macao’s integrated resorts and associations to brainstorm about the current situation and opportunities ahead for the local industry.

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