2015 to begin with global conventions of tourism and gas

Growing attention for the relationship between gastronomy and tourism is being marked by the steep increase in events devoted to the topic. In 2015 there will be two global conventions dealing with tourism and gastronomy; the World Food Travel Summit and Expo will be held in early April in Estoril, Portugal, closely followed by the World Forum of Gastronomic Tourism in San Sebastián in Spain at the end of the same month.

The first event is the latest in a series of conferences organised by the World Food Travel Association since 2004. The second is a new event promoted by the Basque Culinary Center in conjunction with the region and tourist board of the Basque Country and the city of San Sebastián, which will be European Capital of Culture in 2016.

The organisers of the two events came together in San Sebastián in December to talk about future collaboration, and agreed to alternate the biannual events of the World Food Travel Summit with complementary events to be led by the Basque Culinary Center. Greg Richards was invited as President of IGCAT to become a member of the advisory board for the World Forum of Gastronomic Tourism, and he will be speaking at both events in April 2015.