Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) welcomed a delegation from Huai’an today (22 October), sharing Macao’s experience through the application process for its current designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. The Office and delegates discussed future possibilities for mutual exchange and cooperation in tourism, gastronomy and other fields. Following the courtesy call, the delegation visited tourism facilities and explored the city’s unique culinary culture and more.
A delegation from Huai’an paid a visit to MGTO officials this afternoon. The nine delegates include Deputy Mayor of Huai'an Municipal People's Government, Wang Xianghong, Director of Huai'an Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Zhang Donglai, and Director of Huai'an Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, Zhu Yu, among other officials. MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes and Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong shared about the tourism development in Macao under the pandemic and presented a review of both cities’ exchange in gastronomy and culture. Deputy Mayor Wang Xianghong then delivered an introduction of Huai’an and its preparation for application to be submitted to UNESCO next year in pursuing the status as a Creative City of Gastronomy. She also proposed the prospect of mutual exchange and cooperation in tourism, culture, gastronomy and other fields, in preparation for the city’s application.
After the courtesy call, the delegation visited several tourist attractions such as Chapel of Our Lady of Penha, Travessa da Paixão, Rua de Nossa Senhora do Amparo and Pátio de Chôn Sau, for a closer picture of Macao’s tourism situation and progressive recovery in the wake of the pandemic. The delegation also explored the city’s unique gastronomic culture and glamour as a Creative City of Gastronomy.
Macao was designated by UNESCO as a Creative City of Gastronomy in October, 2017. Through “inheritance, innovation and exchange”, Macao leverages gastronomy as a catalyst for cultural exchange and carries on the radiant dynamic brought by diverse culture in harmony, supporting the implementation of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Following the designation, MGTO has been actively supporting other Mainland cities in their process of striving for the status as a member city of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). In 2018 and 2019, the Office invited potential candidate cities from the Mainland to mark their presence in the “International Gastronomy Forum, Macao” (“the Forum”). Among other cities, Huai’an delegated representatives to join both editions of the Forum and arranged for chefs to come into spotlight at the Cooking Show, the Forum’s major highlight last year. MGTO attended the “Belt and Road” Themed Forum on the Internationalization of Huaiyang Cuisine at the invitation of Huai’an in 2018 and participated in the China (Huai'an) International Food Expo for three years in a row since 2018. In addition, MGTO invited Macau Cuisine Association to arrange for chefs to take part in the “UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy – Culinary Skill Exchange and Demonstration” as part of the China (Huai'an) International Food Expo 2020.
