Between Thursday and Friday Peru will become the world's gastronomy tourism capital by hosting 2,300 cuisine exhibitors and representatives from the five continents, Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Magali Silva affirmed.
During her participation in the 2nd UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism, currently held at Lima Convention Center, Silva noted expectations have been exceeded.
"At the beginning 70 people had signed up [for the event]; afterwards, we overcame the 1,000-people barrier, and now we host 2,300 participants, with two full rooms," she told Andina news agency.
Participants can contribute ideas and debate them at 70 roundtables focused on four essential topics: Challenges posed by gastronomy tourism, good practices, product/service development and human resources.
More than 400 tourism and gastronomy experts attend this event to address the most relevant aspects of a sector that generates an economic impact of US$150 billion a year, according to the World Food Travel Association.
Speakers include Carlos Vogeler, Director – Executive Secretary of Member Relations at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) based in Madrid, Spain; Joxe Mari Aizega, Basque Culinary Center Director and; Yolanda Perdomo, Director of the UNWTO Affiliate Members Program.
The event will also feature renowned chefs such as Enrique Olvera, from Mexico, and Gaston Acurio, from Peru, who will bolster the sector’s professional development by providing a space for exchange of ideas and recognizing the best practices implemented around the world.
It was during the 21st Session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Medellin, Colombia in September last year that Peru was named host of the forum, in recognition of the global position the Peruvian gastronomy has gained in the last few years.
The opening took place at the Lima Convention Center located in San Borja district.
The event is organized by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Basque Culinary Center and the Government of Peru, through PromPeru.