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Macao: Creative City of Gastronomy

In line with the Central Government's strategy of developing Macao into the "World Centre of Tourism and Leisure" as well as the vision to facilitate the moderate diversification of Macao's economy, the Macao SAR government launched its application for the UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015, in an effort to promote its sustainable development of tourism and international cooperation. The preparation for the application was put in the charge of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), as approved on 11 December 2015 by Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture.

On 9 May 2016, Macao SAR was approved by the Central Government to launch the application for membership of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network under the name of "Macao, China". On 18 May, this attempt to apply for designation as UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy was endorsed by the Chief Executive. On 28 July, the "Application of Macao, China for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Committee" (Macao's Application Committee) held the first Working Group explanation session. On 30 November, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China announced its support for "Macao, China" to apply for the title of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.

"The Second UNESCO Creative Cities Beijing Summit"

Representatives from MGTO visited relevant departments and organizations in Mainland China and attended domestic and international activities. Visits were paid, for example, to the Shunde Tourism Bureau and the Foshan Food Festival in October 2015, to the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO and the China Cuisine Association in March 2016, and to the Chengdu Municipal Bureau of Commerce, the Chengdu City of Gastronomy Association and the Sichuan Provincial Tourism Administration in May 2016. In June 2016, officials from MGTO were invited to the Second UNESCO Creative Cities Beijing Summit. In September 2016, on the recommendation of the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO, MGTO representatives were invited to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network 1Qth Annual Meeting held in Östersund, Sweden, where they also visited the person in charge of the Östersund program of UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy as well as local and regional tourism offices (Östersund was designated as UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2010). In October 2016, representatives were invited to the UNESCO Creative Cities Jeonju Forum and relevant activities held in Jeonju, South Korea (Jeonju was designated as UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy in 2012).

"The UNESCO Creative Cities Jeonju Forum and relevant activities in 2016"

In April 2017, representatives were invited to the "1st Phuket Creative City of Gastronomy International Symposium 2017" in Thailand. In July, September, and November of the year 2017, respective visits were paid to Enghien-les-Bain (France),Dénia(Spain), and Belém (Brazil) to exchange ideas by participating in local UCCN activities that aim to help Network members gain some insight into the origin and tradition of the food culture of each UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and provide a platform for mutual exchange between Network members.

From 23 to 26 November 2016, Macao successfully hosted the "International Gastronomy Forum, Macao 2016". The forum gathered in Macao representatives from 16 out of the total 18 UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy and one UNESCO Creative City of Literature, along with experts and scholars in the field of gastronomy from Mainland China, Macao and beyond. The purpose of the forum was to exchange and share practice and experience where gastronomy could serve as a driver of creativity and sustainable development. More than 200 participants were invited to the event.

A series of activities was launched in 2017 in support of Macao's bid for the title of "UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy". On 19 January, a meeting of the "Application of Macao, China for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Committee" was chaired by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture. Several Working Group sessions were organized following the meeting. In early June when MGTO completed the documents prepared for the candidature, a framework of website and promotional videos featuring gastronomy was also produced, with which to make real-time promotion and publicity was launched.

In early June, the application documents drafted by MGTO were reviewed by expert advisers and higher-level authorities. Together with an official letter explaining the reasons for the city's application from the Chief Executive, an official endorsement letter from the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO, and letters of support from the China Cuisine Association and the European Council of Wine and Gastronomy Associations (CEUCO), the documents were submitted to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network on 14 June, marking an official move toward the membership of UCCN in the field of Gastronomy. On 22 July, an email notification was received from the UCCN Secretariat stating that the application documents had been accepted and that a review procedure had been initiated. On 31 October, it was announced on the official website of UCCN that "Macao, China" was designated as one of the member cities of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of Gastronomy.