Bahrain's capital Manama will host UNWTO's World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in 2024, it was announced at the 8th edition of the forum in Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain.

 

Bahrain will be the first time Middle East country to host the prestigious forum.

 

Gastronomy Tourism can play a leading role in promoting responsible agricultural practices as well as help local communities thrive, UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said opening the forum in San Sebastián.

 

He said: “Gastronomy Tourism can play a leading role in promoting responsible agricultural practices, protecting biodiversity and reducing the environmental footprint. 

 

"It can also create new opportunities for communities to thrive and protect their heritage and traditions and become an engine of growth and diversification for destinations supporting our roadmap towards the Sustainable Development Goals.”

 

The event was co-organised with Basque Culinary Center (BCC), with a focus on the links between product, gastronomy and tourism.

 

The promotion and preservation of local products, the contribution of tourism to sustainable development, innovation and food waste all took center stage as UNWTO and BCC, also welcomed more than 300 online participants from 50 countries.

 

Joxe Mari Aizega, General Director of Basque Culinary Center, added: "We are at a time to promote transformative dynamics and link gastronomy tourism with rural development. Territory, innovation and creativity are key to successfully moving towards a new scenario in which to promote a model of responsible gastronomy tourism focused on caring for people and the environment. It is essential to promote sustainable practices, harnessing the power of technology as an engine of growth and promoting the professional development of the sector, and to work to maintain the authenticity and diversity of the gastronomic offer."

 

The opening ceremony also featured Rosana Morillo, Secretary of State for Tourism of Spain; Eneko Goia, Mayor of San Sebastian; Azahara Domínguez, Deputy for Mobility, Tourism and Territorial Planning, Provincial Council of Guipuzkoa; and Javier Hurtado, Regional Minister for Tourism, Trade and Consumer Affairs of the Basque Government.

 

On the occasion, world-renowned chefs Martin Berasategui and Pedro Subijana, known for their contributions to Basque cuisine's international recognition, were designated UNWTO Ambassadors for Responsible Tourism.

 

Tourism for Development and Growth

The Forum put the spotlight on gastronomy tourism's role in the preservation of local territories and the promotion of sustainable practices. A high-level panel of tourism ministers – Bulgaria, Puerto Rico and Zimbabwe focused on policies that strengthen agriculture, gastronomy and tourism. Expert-led discussions also focused on the protection of culinary traditions, the value of geographical indications, advancing the sustainability and resilience of rural areas, enabling producers to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and technology-driven world.

 

With gastronomy tourism one of the pillars of the UNWTO Agenda for Africa – Tourism for Inclusive Growth, the Forum also explored the sector's potential as a source of inclusive growth across the region. 

 

In a special address, the First Lady of Zimbabwe, Auxillia C Mnangagwa, a committed promoter of African gastronomy, highlighted that "gastronomy tourism globally has become an effective tool of attracting tourists, particularly those who are cognisant of the natural and nutritional value embedded in traditional foods. As nations we should be able to tap into our nutritional traditional cuisines to ensure a healthy living and socio-economic development of our nations. This is in line with our heritage-based philosophy for promoting tourism."

 

Also on the occasion, UNWTO designated Chef Fatmata Binta as Ambassador for Responsible Tourism for her role in promoting African Gastronomy and community development. Chef Binta is a modern-day nomadic chef connected to the Fulani culture, customs, and cuisine of the biggest Nomadic group in West and Central Africa.

 

A Roadmap for Food Waste Reduction 

Drawing from the recommendations in the Global Roadmap for Food Waste Reduction in Tourism, released by UNWTO in collaboration with UN Environment Programme, the "Circular Solutions for Reducing Food Waste" session showcased diverse initiatives by hotels, restaurants and cruise lines.

 

Solutions ranged from prevention measures, such as mindful procurement and menu design; redistribution of food surplus to vulnerable groups and biomaterial processing; to circular strategies like composting or energy recovery. The discussions also emphasized the significance of education, innovation, and supportive regulations and policies in accelerating change.

 

This year's Forum is organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Basque Culinary Center (BCC), with the support of the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism of Spain, Basque Government, and the Provincial Council of Guipuzkoa, the City Council of San Sebastián. - TradeArabia News Service