2nd UN Gastronomy Forum boosts African cooperation
Tanzania, 11 hours, 16 minutes ago
The 2nd UN Tourism Regional Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for Africa, co-organised with the Basque Culinary Centre, aimed to strengthen cooperation among tourism and gastronomy stakeholders in Africa.
The event, officially opened by Dr Philip Mpango, Vice-President of Tanzania, called for greater visibility of African diverse food cultures, stronger regional branding, enhanced collaboration with local producers, and more sustainable practices.
The forum also welcomed Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, First Lady of Zimbabwe, who has been instrumental in advancing African gastronomy globally.
Opening the event, UN Tourism Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili praised Tanzania for having placed gastronomy tourism high on its agenda for economic growth, culture preservation and community development.
He said: “Tourism is a powerful tool for development, and gastronomy brings us even closer to communities. Africa’s culinary heritage is a key asset - one that can generate jobs, support rural development, and strengthen the continent’s global identity.”
The forum focused on policy frameworks, education and skills, national targeted strategies, communication, and product development as main priorities.
The Secretary-General announced 100 scholarships for students from Africa to benefit from the UN Tourism Online Academy, which will help strengthen the capacities of national tourism professionals in gastronomy and culinary arts.
UN Tourism and Chefs in Africa signed a Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on advocacy, promotion, and skills to strengthen gastronomy tourism across the continent.
The forum underscored the need to strengthen local food ecosystems by engaging with producers, safeguarding culinary heritage through the promotion and use of native crops, documentation of products, processes, and traditional recipes, and more sustainable food systems.
Participants also emphasised the need to elevate the regional and global image of African cuisine, highlighting the role of food festivals, cultural events, and storytelling in showcasing the continent's culinary identity and reshaping perceptions worldwide. -TradeArabia News Service
