7th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism
Nara, Japan, BTNp:- UNWTO (the World Tourism Organization ), the Basque Culinary Center (BCC), the Japan Tourism Agency and the Nara Prefectural Government, announce that the 7th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism will take place on 12-15 December 2022, in Nara, Japan.
Under the theme ‘Gastronomy Tourism for People and Planet: Innovate, Empower and Preserve’, the Forum will focus on the role of gastronomy tourism in promoting women empowerment and young talents, advancing cultural exchange and authenticity, enhancing the value for destinations and food producers, as well as showcasing best practices in destination branding through gastronomy tourism and supporting a Global Roadmap on Food Waste Reduction in Tourism.
Building on UNWTO’s work on advancing innovation across the tourism sector, the Forum represents a unique opportunity for experts from across the growing field of gastronomy tourism to share new ideas and best practices.
Innovation and Social Inclusion
UNWTO Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili says: “This year’s edition of the Forum represents a unique opportunity for experts to share their best practices and enhance the role of Gastronomy Tourism in sustainability, innovation, and social inclusion, and highlight its importance for regional and rural development.”
Joxe Mari Aizega, Director of the Basque Culinary Center, added: “The gastronomy sector has a meaningful influence on a region’s image and international projection. And for that, forums like this one are needed to nurture and boost young talents, create value, and, most important, address the challenges that the gastronomy tourism sector is facing.”
The Governor of Nara, Shogo Arai said: “Gastronomy tourism has been at the heart of Nara’s initiatives to promote the linkages between food and tourism. Such linkages not only contribute to the promotion of traditional culture and diversity, but also to the development of cultural communication, the regional economy, sustainable tourism, and gastronomic exchanges.”
Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, Koichi Wada, added: “In this country of great tradition and culture, where tourism and food and beverage professionals are engaged in friendly competition, there are many new initiatives in gastronomy tourism. We look forward to welcoming you back to Japan.”
Global Gastronomy Leaders
The Forum will once again welcome many of the leading figures of global gastronomy and tourism. Among those set to take part in Nara are UNWTO Ambassador for Sustainable Tourism and Asia’s Best Female Chef of 2016, Maria Margarita A. Fores of the Philippines, Chef Catia Uliassi, ranked number 12 in the ‘50 Best’ from Italy, and Masayuki Miura, owner of Kiyosuminosato AWA Michelin Guide Nara 2022, Green-Star Restaurant (Japan). *BTNewspaper/UNWTO/BCC
