Macao･Creative City of Gastronomy” Work Meeting held Today

Macao (Macao SAR) – February 14, 2018 (travelindex.com) – The “Macao Creative City of Gastronomy” work meeting, attended by representatives of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and other governmental departments concerned, academic institutes, industry organizations and so forth. During the meeting, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, Alexis Tam, proposed six requirements and work directions towards the dedication to build Macao into a genuine Creative City of Gastronomy, through fostering synergies between gastronomy and creative industries, training and preservation, among other endeavors.

In the “Macao･Creative City of Gastronomy” work meeting held today, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam, delivered his remarks, proposing six requirements and work directions for Macao to march forward as a Creative City of Gastronomy:

1) Create new synergies between the field of gastronomy and other creative fields covered by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) including Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Literature, Music and Media Arts, to inspire the industries to move forward;

2) Devote greater promotional efforts and raise the awareness among residents and visitors;

3) Training and preservation: offer vocational training programs in non-higher education and encourage the next generation to choose career paths in the field of gastronomy; provide in-service training in higher-education institutes and admit chefs to degree programs;

4) the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) is planning to set up a culinary centre of considerable scale;

5) join hands with industry partners to look for ways to help old but characteristic catering establishments in downturn to revive through reform;

6) Bring together efforts from different circles and establish a coordinating and management unit to help create a more favorable business environment for industry operators and unveil new potentials for industry growth.

Secretary Tam pointed out that before Macao gained the new designation, the SAR Government has been actively carrying out tasks to push forward integrated development between gastronomy and creative industries. The Committee of Cultural Industries established the Task Group for the Promotion of Gastronomy and Cultural Industries to foster related development.

Secretary Tam believes that the two powerful brands in the city’s portfolio – the listing of the Historic Centre of Macao as a UNESCO World Heritage site and the new status of Macao as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy – will certainly unfold a new horizon of opportunities for the related industries and be a great boon for the city’s transformation into a world centre of tourism and leisure. He expressed his great confidence in the development prospect.

The meeting today was presided by MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, with MGTO Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong presenting an introduction of the UCCN and the tasks involved as a Creative City of Gastronomy. Discussions were also held on supportive schemes for old and characteristic catering establishments as well as community maps.

Industry representatives expressed the issues they encountered regarding interdepartmental administrative procedures during their process of planning to open or renovate their business. The representative of labour union also expressed his concerns on human resources and terms of employment. In summing up the meeting today, Director Senna Fernandes invited all representatives to voice their opinions through different channels and make united efforts to transform Macao into a Creative City of Gastronomy.

President of the Institute for Tourism Studies, Fanny Vong, Acting President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Kent Ieong Chi Kin, Advisors of the Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Charles Lam and Stella Leong, Deputy Director of Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Leong Vai Kei, Vice President of the Committee of Cultural Industries and the Convener of the Task Group for the Promotion of Gastronomy and Cultural Industries, Hsu Hsiu Chu, Director of Board of Administration of Cultural Industries Fund, Davina Chu, as well as representatives of the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, Economic Bureau, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, Labour Affairs Bureau and Environmental Protection Bureau attended the meeting.

Macao was officially designated as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy on 31 October 2017. Following the new status, the SAR Government launched its four-year action plan, making active endeavors to forge Macao into a Creative City of Gastronomy, its major projects including the “2018 Macao Year of Gastronomy” and the “International Gastronomy Forum, Macao 2018” launched and held by MGTO this month.