UN Tourism and the Basque Culinary Center (BCC) have released Good Practices in the Development of Gastronomy Tourism, a publication highlighting how eight global destinations, including Brazil, Canada, Chile, Slovenia, Spain, and Mexico, have successfully applied the 2019 UN Tourism & BCC Guidelines to strengthen culinary identity, enhance competitiveness, and
On World Nutrition Day 2026, QU Dongyu, Director-General of the FAO, highlighted that food security depends not just on production but on availability, accessibility, affordability, and quality of nutritious food. Speaking at the high-level event “Delivering as One for Coherent Nutrition Action” during Rome Nutrition Week 2026, he stressed the
Food, culture, and education have the power to transform communities – and on 12 May 2026, ALECSO Director-General Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ould Amar met with IGCAT President Dr. Diane Dodd and Lamia Temimi (Coordinator of Cap Bon’s World Region of Gastronomy 2028 bid) spark a new chapter in the partnership between ALECSO and IGCAT, reaffirming their commitment to using
From 19–22 May 2026, UNESCO’s Africa Week will shine a spotlight on water, youth, culture, and sustainable development across the continent. This dynamic event, hosted at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, featured conferences, high-level panels, youth activities, exhibitions, cinema, gastronomy, a book fair, and a gala, all designed to foster dialogue
Despite geopolitical challenges, Europe’s tourism sector showed remarkable resilience in early 2026, with international tourist arrivals rising by 5.6% and overnight stays up by 5.5% compared to 2025. This growth was powered by strong intra-regional demand and Europe’s reputation as a safe and attractive destination. Northern Europe led the way
The UN Tourism has opened applications for the Best Tourism Villages 2026 initiative, recognizing outstanding rural destinations worldwide, which the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) is pleased to share. Since its launch in 2021, the programme has received over 1,000 applications from 100 countries, building a global network of 319
The International Institute of Gastronomy, Arts, Culture and Tourism (IGCAT) believes that sustainable food systems start from the ground up. That’s why we are proud to spotlight Slow Food in Africa, an incredible initiative that has grown a network of over 3,700 active gardens since 2011. These gardens are more
Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of Slovenia, the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT) proudly supports and promotes the Golden Bee Award 2026, the highest national accolade recognizing outstanding achievements in the protection of bees and other pollinators. This award celebrates innovation, research, and initiatives
At European Tourism Day, a clear message emerged: the future of European travel depends on better balance, smarter investment, and a decisive shift toward regenerative models. A new EU Task Force report on “unbalanced tourism” reveals how visitor flows are heavily concentrated in specific destinations and seasons, creating pressure in
Galicia’s “living seed library,” managed by the Misión Biológica de Galicia (MBG), is helping restore agricultural biodiversity by conserving and reintroducing more than 3,000 local varieties of cereals and legumes. Preserved under controlled conditions near Pontevedra, these seeds act as a safeguard against climate change, pests, and plant disease while remaining actively
The Plastic Free Foundation has released its 2025 Impact Report, highlighting the global achievements of Plastic Free July. In 2025, an estimated 174 million people across 190 countries participated—about 16% of global consumers. Participants significantly reduced waste, cutting an average of 13 kg of household waste per person and taking 15% more actions to avoid plastic compared to non-participants.
A new global initiative, Tourism Food for Good, has been launched by UN Tourism, the TUI Care Foundation, and the University of Cambridge’s Centre for Resilience and Sustainable Development (CRSD) to reshape how food is produced, sourced, and consumed across the tourism value chain. Building on UN Tourism’s Global Roadmap for Food Waste Reduction, the initiative
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault welcomed over 21,000 new seed samples from 20 genebanks worldwide, including first-time deposits from the Philippines and Peru. This 68th deposit brings the total collection to 1.38 million samples, reinforcing global efforts to safeguard crop diversity against climate change and crises. Major contributors included the Philippine Rice Research Institute, sending 4,000 rice varieties;
UNESCO has released the 2025 Framework for Cultural Statistics, Part II, introducing a comprehensive classification guide aimed at enhancing the measurement and analysis of cultural phenomena globally. This updated framework provides standardized definitions and indicators across various cultural domains, including cultural heritage, creative industries, and cultural participation. By harmonizing cultural statistics,
The session brought together global experts to review a restructured draft report, which now features a more concise, problem-driven layout of 10 chapters. Discussions focused on three thematic sections that map the core challenges in the global food system and a revised methodological framework underpinning the report’s analysis. The International Institute
Speaking at the Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macao, Gloria Guevara, Chief Special Advisor at the Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, called for a transformative shift in the global tourism sector. She emphasized the need to redefine tourism’s role beyond leisure, positioning it as a powerful force for socio-economic
