MACAO, April 7 (Xinhua) -- Macao officially started its application for a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, a City of Gastronomy, the special administrative region's local media quoted Macao social and cultural chief in its report on Friday.
Macao Daily reported that Macao's Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Tam Chon Weng as saying that the government has officially apply to become one of the most popular choice for food and restaurants, which will add another reputation to the city trying to become a global tourism destination.
Macao's Tourism Office listed the UNESCO "City of Gastronomy" application as one of four major goals in 2017. The SAR government even set up a special committee in charge of this issue.
Tam also said earlier this year that it is one of the SAR government's major endeavors in 2017, when attending a meeting convened by this committee on Jan. 19.
If Macao is successfully designated as a UNESCO gastronomy city, it will add a significant international brand for Macao with far-reaching significance and a powerful impetus to Macao's transformation into a world tourism and leisure center, as well as adequate diversification and sustainable development of Macao's economy, Tan commented in that meeting.
Macao also organized the "International Gastronomy Forum" in November 2016 as a warm-up before it officially applies for the brand.
