The Diplomat
The 9th UN Tourism World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism will be held in Manama, Bahrain, on November 18-19, under the theme “Gastronomy Tourism: a driver of economic diversification and inclusion”.
For the first time in the Middle East, the Forum will have an outstanding Spanish presence, bringing together world leaders, industry experts and renowned chefs. Among them will be the renowned Spanish chefs Sergio Torres, from the award-winning COCINA Hermanos Torres (3 Michelin stars), Diego Guerrero, from DSTAGE CONCEPT (2 Michelin stars), as well as many other international references such as the Thai Deepanker Khosla, holder of a Michelin star or the Croatian Rudolf Stefan, holder of a Michelin star among others. This meeting will provide an exceptional showcase to highlight the transformative potential of gastronomic tourism as a driver of economic resilience, inclusion and sustainability of destinations.
Top chefs join industry leaders
Organized in collaboration with the Basque Culinary Center (BCC) and hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Forum will feature speeches by Ministers of Tourism from around the world, particularly from the Middle East. They will be joined by award-winning chefs such as Chef Alejandra Espinoza of Somos Restaurant (Ecuador) and Chef Rudolf Stefan of Konoba Pelegrini (Croatia). Notable participants will include Tim Brooke-Webb, CEO of 50 Best, which empowers chefs from around the world and fosters a global dialogue that elevates gastronomy to make it a fundamental cultural, economic and creative force.
The forum will highlight outstanding initiatives that emphasize the quality and origin of products, such as the Jordanian “Farm to Table” initiative, an example of sustainable gastronomic tourism, and the Collège Culinaire de France, recognized for promoting quality gastronomy and supporting artisans committed to preserving traditional know-how. The event will also feature Spain’s Sagardi Group, a leading hospitality group that offers authentic, high-quality culinary experiences underpinned by gastronomic roots.
In line with discussions on leveraging intangible cultural heritage, the forum will examine crucial issues such as the use of intellectual property and branding to enhance destination branding, the preservation of culinary heritage and biodiversity, and the promotion of authentic and immersive cultural experiences based on the entire culinary tourism value chain. To address these issues, experts from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the global Slow Food movement and the Creative Tourism Network will participate.
Food waste and innovation, key sustainability issues
Sustainability remains a central theme, with discussions on reducing food waste, integrating circular economy principles and promoting local sourcing. The masterclass by LightBlue Consulting (Thailand), which will delve into circular solutions for reducing food waste, will be followed by a session featuring celebrity chef Leyla Fathallah (UAE), active in UNEP’s Recipe of Change campaign against food waste, the coordination of the One Planet Sustainable Tourism Program (UNEP), and the startup Ehfaaz (UAE), a circular economy company specializing in closed-loop recycling.
Innovation will be another fundamental pillar of the event. Meta will give a master class on the influence of social networks and technology in the reconfiguration of gastronomic tourism. There will be a round table discussion on how to build the image of a destination through gastronomy. In addition, the Forum will host the finals of UN Tourism’s fourth global competition for food tourism startups, in which emerging companies from around the world will present innovative solutions aimed at responding to the challenges facing the food tourism sector.
Live cooking demonstrations by Bahraini chefs will offer participants an immersive experience of Bahrain’s unique culinary traditions, while side events will allow them to discover the country’s rich cultural and historical heritage.
Registration is open until October 31, 2024.
