Macao once again demonstrated its strength as a hub for international cultural and gastronomic exchange through the International Cities of Gastronomy Fest Macao, held from July 11 to 19. Despite ending early due to weather conditions, the event attracted approximately 100,000 visitors. Under the theme “Spices and Herbs”, this year’s edition exceeded expectations, gathering a record-breaking 35 of all UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy.
The programme was structured around three major pillars: the International Gastronomy Promenade, featuring over 100 stalls from 15 Creative Cities, offering visitors a true sensory journey through global flavours; the City of Gastronomy Showcase, where chefs from 29 UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy delivered 52 culinary showcases accompanied by approximately 2,900 tasting sessions; and the International Gastronomy Forum, themed “The Spice of Life: Macao’s Culinary Connections”, brought together experts, representatives from over 30 cities, and industry professionals to discuss innovation, sustainability and global food culture.
Beyond these highlights, the festival also included community visits by representatives and chefs, exchange sessions with educational institutions, and collaborations with Macao’s six integrated resorts. Special dinners were hosted in local hotels, created by guest chefs from cities such as Santa Maria da Feira (Portugal), Gangneung (South Korea), San Antonio (USA), Phuket and Phetchaburi (Thailand) and Paraty (Brazil).
One of the online promotions was the interactive “Spice Party” game on WeChat, which attracted 227,530 participants and offered a set of flight tickets between Macao and Mainland China as grand prize, while other participants could stand a chance redeem souvenirs featuring Macao’s tourism mascot, Mak Mak at the fest.
Event promotion was extensive. The Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) leveraged 28 official social media accounts, multiple traditional media channels, and partnered with 37 digital influencers from different regions. This resulted in over 7.8 million social media impressions, more than 3 million video views, and over 29 million impressions from promoted posts.
Aligned with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and Macao’s “1 + 4” diversified development strategy, the MGTO positioned the festival as a bridge between cultures, further strengthening Macao’s identity as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure and a model UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.
