Within the framework of SESRIC’s Tourism Capacity Building Programme (Tourism-CaB) and in line with relevant resolutions of the 38^th Session of the COMCEC and the 11^th Session of the Islamic Conference of Tourism Ministers (ICTM), SESRIC and ICDT jointly organized a Training Webinar on “Gastronomy Tourism in OIC Countries” on 4-5 October 2023 through an online video conferencing platform.

The training webinar consisted of four consecutive sessions over two days. Competent experts and academicians provided the training that was simultaneously translated into Arabic, English and French, for the benefit of 110 experts and executives from the Ministries and relevant national institutions in charge of tourism in 23 OIC member countries.

The training webinar brought together participants to provide them with the required knowledge on gastronomy as an asset of tourism. In addition, the webinar presented strategies for the participants to help them develop gastronomy tourism in their respective countries. Throughout the webinar sessions, the below-mentioned topics were covered:

• Key Concepts and Prospects of Gastronomy Tourism
• Challenges facing Gastronomy Tourism in OIC Countries
• Policies and Digital Tools
• The Role of Gastronomy Tourism in Empowering Local Communities and Promoting Sustainable Tourism

In addition, representatives from Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Senegal, and Türkiye shared their countries’ success stories in gastronomy tourism, including their relevant strategies and policies. They also discussed the challenges and opportunities for promoting their food and heritage through gastronomy tourism.

SESRIC developed and initiated its Tourism Capacity Building Programme (Tourism-CaB) in 2015. The Programme aims at supporting and contributing to the efforts of the OIC member countries towards strengthening institutional and human capacities by sharing knowledge, experiences and best practices among the relevant Ministries and national institutions in charge of tourism. Within this framework of this Programme, the Centre organizes capacity-building activities by using various modalities such as training courses, training workshops, and study visits. For more information on SESRIC’s Tourism Capacity Building Programme (Tourism-CaB), please visit: https://www.sesric.org/cbp-oic-tourism.php

Photos