• MGTO Director Senna Fernandes signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Creative City of Gastronomy of Shunde undertaking to conduct co-operation in the International Gastronomy and Culture Exchange Centre
  • MGTO presents Macao’s activities during Creative Cities of Gastronomy cluster meeting

MGTO attends UNESCO Creative Cities Network Annual Conference in Italy

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Opening on 12th June in the Creative City of Crafts and Folk Art of Fabriano, in Italy, the 13th UNESCO Creative Cities Network Annual Conference - themed ‘The Ideal City’ - invited participants to reflect on what represent the features of an ideal city. The programme of the annual conference included plenary sessions as well as separate working sessions for each creative field plus a string of cultural events. 

Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes - Director of Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), and Macao SAR focal point of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) - represented the city at the annual conference in Italy, where she also joined other Creative Cities of Gastronomy representatives in signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Creative City of Gastronomy of Shunde, interacting with and co-operating in joint activities. 

Following the opening ceremony, delegates heard Denise Bax, Senior Programme Specialist for Cultural Policies and Development of the Culture Sector of UNESCO, present UCCN’s annual report, with ‘International Gastronomy Forum, Macao 2019’, among the two events conducted by the network highlighted. In addition to discussion sessions the Forum, organised by MGTO in January of this year, invited representatives from the Creative Cities of Gastronomy to an outdoor cooking demonstration of young chefs from various participating cities, and released a joint promotional video of the Creative Cities of Gastronomy.

On the opening day of the UCCN Annual Conference Macao joined 23 Creative Cities of Gastronomy in inking a Memorandum of Understanding with the Creative City of Gastronomy of Shunde undertaking to conduct co-operation in a purposely built International Gastronomy and Culture Exchange Centre in Shunde. 

The Centre - part of the city’s ‘Overseas Chinese Town’ - is part of a major new cultural and tourism zone under development in Shunde. Under the broad umbrella of ‘Creative Gastronomy - Food, Culture and Sustainable Innovation’, Creative Cities of Gastronomy were invited to showcase and exchange traditional gastronomic culture during international culinary competitions, exhibitions, conferences and outdoor food festivals. The Centre features a gastronomy museum, international conference rooms, offices, culinary arts demonstrations, exchange kitchens and exhibition areas.

During a meeting of the cluster of Cities of Gastronomy held on 11th June in the neighbouring Italian city of Senigallia the MGTO Director elaborated upon the main initiatives undertaken as well as those in the pipeline as part of Macao’s four-year plan to develop the territory as a City of Gastronomy. 

In addition, the MGTO Director joined a themed session on 13th June involving representatives from Creative Cities in the field of Media Arts and Design from Senegal, Australia and Mexico about ‘Stimulating Innovation’.

Next year, the 14th UCCN Annual Conference will be hosted by the Creative City of Film of Santos, in Brazil. Meetings in various creative fields will include events such as International Gastronomy Forum, Macao 2020.


MGTO Promotes Sustainable Gastronomy Day

On 18th June, Macao joined the global community for the second year in a row to promote Sustainable Gastronomy Day. Employing various channels, Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) shared with residents and visitors three videos produced in collaboration with National Geographic showcasing the sustainable practices and creative culinary techniques favoured by the food and beverage sector in Macao as well as promoting the city’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy (UCCN) - all designed as a window on the sustainable development of Macao’s burgeoning tourism industry. This year, MGTO officials also shared the significance and objectives that come with this international observance, the progress of Macao’s development as a ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’ and the territory’s contributions to the UCCN in a Macao TV programme. In addition, the Tourism Office  placed promotional banners and links to the UN’s website for Sustainable Gastronomy Day on its websites.

The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution on 21st December, 2016 designating 18th June as the internationally observed Sustainable Gastronomy Day. For details, please visit the United Nation’s official website at: www.un.org/en.



MGTO Co-organise Celebrity Chef Workshop with Industry

Co-organised by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and Galaxy Entertainment Group, a Celebrity Chef Workshop was held on 24th May in Galaxy Macau. With the objective of enhancing the culinary expertise of professional chefs in Macao the workshop invited celebrated chef Jacky Lam, Chairman of Macau Cuisine Association, as instructor. Some 66 Chinese cuisine chefs attended the workshop. 

The workshop was filmed and edited into a one-hour lecture video to be shared later on MGTO’s Macao Tourism Industry Net (http://industry.macaotourism.gov.mo). The public, including tourism and catering industry professionals and people interested in pursuing this career, are welcome to watch the video and learn more about the cooking skills involved.