Bahrain Hosts Monumental 9th UN Gastronomy Tourism Forum Inspiring Bold Global Action on Sustainability and Cultural Empowerment

Bahrain hosted the 9th UN Gastronomy Tourism Forum, uniting global leaders and chefs to explore sustainability, inclusion, and culinary innovation.

The Middle East hosted the World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism for the first time, with Bahrain bringing together policymakers, industry leaders, and celebrated chefs to discuss sustainability and community empowerment.

Sustainability was a recurring theme, with masterclasses and sessions focusing on reducing food waste, embracing circular economies, and promoting local sourcing. Experts highlighted how sustainable practices in gastronomy tourism can minimize environmental impacts, foster inclusive growth, and enhance resilience.

Innovation was equally prominent, with Meta unveiling future trends in gastronomy tourism and conducting a masterclass on leveraging social media and technology to reshape the industry.

The 4th UN Tourism Gastronomy Startup Competition culminated in the Final Pitch Challenge, showcasing groundbreaking ideas for policy innovation and community engagement. Agrojusto from Argentina emerged as the winner, recognized for its transformative approach to sustainable gastronomy tourism.

In a special announcement, the Basque Culinary Center, in partnership with UN Tourism, introduced three scholarships for its Online Course in Gastronomy Tourism Experience Design, set to begin in March 2025. Applications, open until December 19, 2024, aim to make specialized training more accessible for professionals in the sector.