The Application of Macao, China for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Committee (“Macao’s Application Committee”) conducted the first plenary meeting at the Tourism Activities Centre today (19 January). The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture and the Chairman of the Macao’s Application Committee, Alexis Tam, presided over the meeting.
The application progress was reported during the meeting, followed by a discussion on the specific direction and policies regarding Macao’s application for designation as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy (“City of Gastronomy”), as well as allocation of work duties in the Macao’s Application Committee, etc.
During the meeting, Secretary Tam expressed that it is one of the SAR Government’s major endeavors this year to proceed with Macao’s application for designation as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The Central Government, including the Ministry of Education and the National Commission of the People's Republic of China for UNESCO, has clearly indicated several times its full support to Macao’s application for designation as a City of Gastronomy. If Macao is successfully designated as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy, it will add a significant international brand for Macao, which will have far-reaching significance and give a powerful impetus to Macao’s transformation into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure as well as adequate diversification and sustainable development of Macao’s economy.
In the meeting, MGTO presented an introduction of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and reported its various first-phase preparations completed including establishment of the Application of Macao, China for the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Committee last year. The Office also organized the first Working Group explanation session, reported the progress of preparation for application documents, visited and attended international events, as well as organized the “International Gastronomy Forum, Macao 2016” last November, etc. This year, the Office will make more strenuous efforts to prepare for application documents, produce a thematic website and a feature video on gastronomy, etc.
The Macao’s Application Committee also had a discussion about certain advices regarding the specific direction and policies on Macao’s application for designation as a City of Gastronomy, including Macao’s future development plan and its possible contributions to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, especially on how to play a more significant role in the Creative Cities Network, as well as other plans.
The Macao’s Application Committee also discussed allocation of roles and job duties to various members of the Working Group, in order to carry out and make better progress in the application work.
The plenary meeting was also attended byVice Chairman of the Macao’s Application Committee and Head of the Working Group, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, and other Committee members including President of Management Committee of Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, José Tavares, President of Cultural Affairs Bureau, Ung Vai Meng, and President of the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), Fanny Vong; Vice Heads of the Working Group, MGTO Deputy Directors Cecilia Tse and Cheng Wai Tong, as well as other Working Group members who are representatives of relevant government departments, academic institutes and the catering industry (Please find attached the list of Working Group members).
