The 'International Gastronomy Forum, Macao 2016', organized by Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), under the theme 'Power of Gastronomy', with the activities of the event running between 23^rd to 26^th November. The Forum gathers members of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, experts and academics, to connect with and share their successful cases. MGTO organizes this Forum as part of the work in forging ahead to develop Macao as a gastronomy city, on the road to transform the city into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure.

Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Alexis Tam stating that the government amid other infrastructure and tourism-related projects in the pipeline, have attached great importance in our ongoing work for the application to become a UNESCO Creative Cities Network member. The government strongly believes that the City of Gastronomy designation is the best way to seek recognition of culinary distinctiveness.

The event includes two discussion sessions themed 'Creativity and Gastronomy' and 'Sustainability on Gastronomy and Cultural Development', along with a Round Table session. During the different sessions, members of UNESCO Creative Cities Network and experts will share their practical cases and insights on using creativity as a transformative driver for development, on how to integrate gastronomy and culture in order to make them sustainable in the new era, and experience sharing in forging ahead as a gastronomy city. Another important part of the program of the International Gastronomy Forum is to enable participants to experience the city's gastronomical diversity, cultural heritage and new tourism attractions.

Other participants and guest speakers attending the Forum include representatives from around the world from 17 city members of UNESCO Creative Cities Network in Gastronomy and Literature, the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO, China Cuisine Association, Tourism Development Committee members, tourism academics, Macanese food experts and others, in a total of over 200 delegates.

The Creative Cities Network is currently formed by 116 member cities from 54 countries covering seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Music and Media Arts. Created in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network was created to promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.