IGCAT’s Annual Expert Meeting 2020 aims to explore how the combination of gastronomy, arts, culture and nature can contribute to health and well-being both for local citizens and discerning visitors.
The meeting will be hosted by Kuopio, European Region of Gastronomy awarded 2020-2021 on 9-11 September, together with a public seminar on Food, Well-being and Wellness Tourism.
Experts from IGCAT and the Regions of Gastronomy will discuss how to respond to changing consumer behaviour, analysing both increasing citizens’ inclination towards healthier lifestyles and tourists’ search for rural, sustainable, living-it, experience and creative tourism offers.
By highlighting good practises in the Regions of Gastronomy, opportunities will be explored on how to boost responsible tourism as a means to help local communities to conserve fragile cultures and habitats, minimising the negative social and environmental impacts caused by unsustainable tourism practices.
IGCAT Experts are invited to propose short papers and best practices to be considered for the Seminar Reader and that can feed into the wider policy agenda of how to support, maintain and further encourage more responsible and better-quality well-being and wellness visitor offers.
On the same occasion, Kuopio will celebrate their opening ceremony as European Region of Gastronomy 2020-2021 and will host the 20th European Region of Gastronomy Platform meeting.
The public seminar on Food, Well-being and Wellness Tourism is organised by IGCAT, ProAgria East Finland and Savonia University of Applied Sciences, and supported by the European Social Fund and the Leverage from the EU 2014-2020 programme.
About the European Region of Gastronomy
Candidate and awarded Regions of Gastronomy from Europe, guided by IGCAT, are working together to raise awareness about the importance of their cultural and food uniqueness; stimulate creativity and gastronomic innovation; educate for better nutrition; improve sustainable tourism standards; highlight distinctive food cultures; and strengthen community well-being.
About IGCAT
IGCAT aims to empower local communities by raising awareness of the importance to safeguard and promote distinct food, culture, arts and sustainable tourism assets. This is essential to balance against globalised food trends that are impacting on our planet, health and local economies.
IGCAT is a non-profit institute established in 2012, working with regional stakeholder consortiums in the fields of gastronomy, culture, arts and tourism. It counts on the expertise of a worldwide network of experts and works in partnership with specialised intergovernmental organisations.
IGCAT provides the Region of Gastronomy Award and is the official secretariat for the European Region of Gastronomy Platform. Furthermore, the Institute has developed the European Young Chef Award the Local Food Gift Challenge, the Top Visitor Experience and the Food Film Menu.