Macau Thursday kicked off its first International Gastronomy Forum to exchange views on the business potential of gastronomy and making cities better for people to live in.
The three-day event at Macau Tower has attracted more than 300 representatives from members of the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy, as well as chefs from the Chinese mainland and Macau.
Deputy Director-General of UNESCO Getachew Engida said at the opening ceremony that the designation of Macau as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy bears witness to its continuing commitment to promoting a culture-centred model of urban development, particularly through its rich culinary traditions and vibrant contemporary gastronomic scene.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Alexis Tam Chon Weng said in this speech at the opening ceremony that “in the pursuit for a more sustainable development and (in order to) create new opportunities for students and academia, Macau is committed to strengthening culinary arts higher education exchanges with fellow Creative Cities of Gastronomy.
“We will consolidate our efforts in fostering the dissemination of culinary skills and the heritage of local gastronomic culture, [and we plan to] set up a culinary academy and a vocational centre with an international cuisine area.
“Also in the pipeline is the establishment of a database of recipes and techniques of the local Macanese cuisine, a fusion of Portuguese, Chinese, African, Indian, Malaysian and other influences.
“It is a perfect example of our unique city narrative and long history of cross-cultural exchanges,” the policy secretary overseeing Macau’s tourism sector said.
During the forum, the delegates will visit the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) and Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), along with opportunities to experience the diverse local gastronomic culture.
The forum is one of the first highlights of the “2018 Macau Year of Gastronomy,” which was launched on Wednesday, with a range of initiatives locally and internationally to celebrate the recent designation of Macau as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
