ROMA (ITALPRESS) – “I express the deepest satisfaction for achieving a historical goal: Italian cuisine has been awarded the title of World Heritage by UNESCO – said the Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè -. This is the world recognition of a cultural model that is an integral part of our national identity and, at the same time, a strategic asset of great importance for the Italian economic fabric. The success of our culinary excellence lies in a winning and stainless apparatus in which all elements operate in synergy – Santanchè explains. Its heart is the conviviality and social value, which binds families and communities and joins indissolubly to the richness of our territories, promoting the protection of local products.” These are the words of the Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè in commenting on the recognition of Italian cuisine as a World Heritage Site.
“It is precisely this harmony between society, territory and quality to constitute a real quality distinctive factor for the entire Italian system and a powerful tool of promotion, so much so that ENIT launched the project “Italy Gourmet Bus”, to celebrate the food and wine culture and the Italian tourist attraction in the main European capitals, and that will end this week in Rome. The food and wine tradition – the minister continues – remained alive and authentic because we were able to preserve the cultural heritage, ensuring the fundamental passage of practical and artisanal knowledge between generations, from home tradition to high catering”.
“Our food and wine offer is already an indispensable pillar of the tourist industry. The sector generated a turnover of more than 40 billion euros in 2024, marking a growth of 12% compared to the previous year. Moreover, tourism linked to this segment is the main reason for Italy’s choice as a destination and the first item of spending of travellers, with a value that in the first four months of 2025 has already touched 9 billion euros. Looking at the growth prospects – continues Santanchè -, the category associations estimate that the possible UNESCO recognition of Italian cuisine could determine, over two years, an increase of tourist flows up to 8%, equal to approximately 18 million additional overnight stays. In addition to the direct tourist value, Italian cuisine plays a significant cultural role: It represents a shared identity of 59 million residents and an estimated community of up to 85 million people of Italian origin in the world, thus consolidating a powerful transnational link. Italian cuisine – the minister concludes – is now recognized as ambassador of the nation in the world, a heritage that we have the duty to protect, promote and value even more. The success of the achieved goal is due to everyone’s commitment: the operators of the sector, the associations of category, the local institutions and, last but not least, the government, who believed and supported the candidacy from the beginning. We will work together to translate this prestigious result into structural growth of the sector and national pride.”.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
