UNWTO Gastronomy network action plan 2016 / 2017

Gastronomy tourism has emerged as an indispensable resource, adding value and providing a solution to an increasingly pressing need for destinations to stand out and offer unique products. Five fundamental reasons behind these ever-growing phenomena are:

1. A destination´s need to differentiate itself and develop a unique selling proposition naturally leads to a search for authenticity, and there is nothing better than intangible heritage to achieve authenticity, a domain in which Gastronomy predominates.

2. Destinations turn to Gastronomy to attract the kinds of tourists interested in immersing themselves in places and cultures that they visit. This traveler profile has the potential for increased spending, a more balanced distribution in the territory and to have a greater impact on the entire tourism value chain.

3. Gastronomy tourism has the potential to direct tourism flow to less visited locations, which could mean a radical improvement in terms of new opportunities and economic development for these regions.

4. Gastronomy enables the design of an effective communication strategy, using a narrative that easily appeals to the emotions of potential visitor and provides a deeper and more meaningful experience that can leave a more lasting impression.

5. This memorable and authentic experience generates visitor loyalty. These visitors, can, in turn become effective ambassadors, working to share their positive experience with other travelers.

What is the UNWTO Gastronomy Network?

The Gastronomy Network is a forum in which experts, destination management organizations, academics, a wide variety of private sector stakeholders and Member States can work together to promote and shape the future of the Gastronomy Tourism sector, providing the ideal forum for public-private collaboration.

The UNWTO Gastronomy Network was officially launched in September 2015 during the General Assembly held in Medellin, Colombia. On this occasion, the meeting was organized to introduce the UNWTO Gastronomy Network to Affiliate and Full Members as well as to define the Gastronomy Network action plan for 2016.

Mission

1. Incorporate Gastronomy as a key resource in sustainable tourism development by contributing to its visibility.

2. Serve as a platform for private, public and academic bodies to interact, share and access relevant information, while benefitting from an unparalleled platform to create, disseminate and implement innovative concepts.

3. To provide a legitimate framework for transparency in public-private cooperation

Vision

The UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (GCET) serves as the fundamental frame of reference for all the initiatives of the organisation promoting responsible and sustainable tourism, including the UNWTO Gastronomy Network. Addressed to governments, the travel industry, communities and tourists alike, this comprehensive set of principles aims to help maximize the sector’s benefits while minimizing its potentially negative impact on the environment, cultural heritage and societies across the globe.

Likewise, the UN Agenda for 2030 is a plan of action for people, the planet and prosperity. It also seeks to encourage global peace. It recognizes that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions is the greatest global challenge and a requirement for sustainable development. All countries and all stakeholders, acting in collaborative partnership, will implement this plan. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.

Furthermore, against this backdrop, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) has announced the “International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017”.

All initiatives of the UNWTO Gastronomy Network aim to enable destinations to develop gastronomy and tourism in a sustainable manner incorporating the steps set out in the ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, along with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that aim to, inter alia, - end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all.

The UNWTO Gastronomy Network involves the development of pilot projects and prototypes designed to generate knowledge in gastronomy tourism, as well as viable models for product development, effective marketing, communication and governance models. It also aims to present research and to disseminate it in annual international forums and conferences, fostering the exchange of experiences.