UNWTO says that attendees can choose from five different excursions to experience Spain's local gastronomy
With leading figures of the global gastronomical tourism in attendance, the World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism will be held in Donostia-San Sebastian in Spain, from October 5-7.
In a press statement, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), which is organising the forum says its aim of the forum this year is to focus on how tourism can foster rural development, build economic resilience and preserve cultural heritage.
UNWTO adds that this year’s forum is centred on the theme ‘Gastronomy Tourism: Back to the roots’ and will showcase connections between product, gastronomy and tourism.
UNWTO says among the attendees will be Qu Dongyu, General Director of Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), a sister organisation in the UN, Paolo Di Croce, Director General of Slow Food, Italy, Célia Tunc, Secretary General of Collège Culinaire de France, Fatmata Binta, winner of the BCWP 2022 and who will be appointed on the occasion UNWTO Ambassador for Responsible Tourism and confirmed speakers from Brazil, Croatia, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Italy, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Spain and Switzerland.
The statement says that attendees can choose from five different excursions to experience local gastronomy, including ‘Rioja Alavesa: excellence in wine tourism’, ‘rural flavours of the Basque Country and the Idiazabal territory’, ‘Urola Kosta: Fishing villages, landscapes and dream flavours’, ‘A sea of mountains’, ‘Gorbeialdea and Arratia Valley’ and ‘Bizkaia, Urdaibai coast’.
UNWTO says this edition will also commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Mediterranean diet’s inclusion on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Additionally, the side-event ‘Culinary Plaza’ organised by Basque Culinary Centre will spotlight culinary specialties from destinations including Azerbaijan, Botswana, Porto (Portugal), Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe. Residents around Donostia-San Sebastián will be able to access the Forum’s venue at Tabakalera.
The statement adds a UNWTO Gastronomy Pitch Challenge will also be held alongside Culinary Action!, where selected finalists from UNWTO Startup competitions will pitch their technology-driven innovative proposals and solutions for gastronomy tourism.
Building on the Global Roadmap on Food Waste Reduction in Tourism, launched during the previous edition of the Forum, UNWTO says this edition will promote reducing food waste, advancing circularity and combating climate change within gastronomy tourism. Sustainable practices, encompassing the reduction of carbon footprint, the promotion of seasonal and local produce, and the shift to circular economy models, will be showcased.
