KUCHING: Sarawak is known for its biodiversity and commitment to social inclusivity, with a decade-long track record of promoting responsible tourism, making it a perfect match for the conference’s theme.
Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan said tourism in Sarawak aims to have a positive impact on the environment, local communities, and heritage preservation.
“On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts of Sarawak, it is with great pleasure that Sarawak will host the 4th Food & Society Conference from Nov 15-18 in the beautiful city of Kuching, ”said Snowdan during a press conference yesterday at Mulu Room, Level 17, Baitulmakmur 2 building.
He said that Food & Society is a series of international conferences dedicated to Food Studies, organised by the Asia Pacific Food Studies Network, headquartered at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
“Sarawak is honoured to be chosen as the host for the first post-pandemic venture of Food & Society. Kuching was a natural choice for hosting the 2023 Food and Society Conference with the theme “Sustainable and Inclusive Food Systems,” said Snowdan.
This commitment to responsible tourism aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
According to Snowdan, Kuching’s Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy designation in 2021 also played a pivotal role in the selection of the city as the conference host.
“Kuching was the first Malaysian city to join this network in any creative field, and as of Oct 31, 2023, there are 57 Cities of Gastronomy worldwide.
“Collaborating with Food and Society will encourage a thoughtful exploration of key concepts within responsible tourism, including sustainability, inclusivity, and community-based tourism (CBT),” he said.
He stressed that approximately 20 per cent of academic presentations will be conducted by Sarawakian scholars, contributing to international collaborations with foreign institutions.
The conference has been made possible with the support of various stakeholders, including Business Events Sarawak, USCI Hotel, and University, UNIMAS, Cat City Holidays, The Culinary Heritage and Arts Society Sarawak, and the city of Kuching, which is the driving force behind the Creative City of Gastronomy project.
