By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 8: Kuching’s achievement as Malaysia’s first UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy goes beyond international recognition but comes with the long-term responsibility of empowering local communities, preserving heritage recipes, and strengthening food supply chains, said Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng.
According to a press release, Wee, who was invited as a distinguished panelist at the Festival Cita Rasa Warisan @ Pantai Timur in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, shared Kuching’s transformative journey during the ‘Sharing Session: The Road to UNESCO – Kota Bharu as a Creative City of Gastronomy’.
Representing Kuching, which received UNESCO designation in 2021, he explained that the recognition was only the beginning.
“Our responsibility goes beyond the award. It is about empowering local communities, preserving heritage recipes, strengthening local food supply chains, and ensuring no one is left behind,” he stressed.
Wee highlighted how Kuching has aligned its gastronomy journey with global cultural agendas such as the Braga Manifesto and Mondiacult 2025 through a comprehensive four-year action plan.
The initiatives engaged hawkers, youth, artisans, and tourism operators while integrating gastronomy branding into Visit Malaysia campaigns and hosting cross-border culinary exchanges.
These programmes attracted more than one million visitors annually during food festivals, driving local economic growth.
Youth engagement, Wee noted, was a central pillar, with training in digital marketing, food safety, and heritage recipe documentation to ensure traditional cuisines are preserved for future generations.
He emphasised that Kuching’s inclusive and sustainable model could serve as a valuable example for Kota Bharu and other Malaysian cities aspiring to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
“Kota Bharu’s ambition is an opportunity for Malaysia to showcase its diverse culinary heritage on a global stage.
“Together, we can create a stronger national ecosystem for culture-based urban innovation and sustainable tourism,” he added.
Looking ahead, Wee announced that Kuching will bid to host the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy Conference in 2026.
If successful, the event will bring together representatives from 63 cities worldwide, further positioning Malaysia as a leader in cultural diplomacy, creative economy growth, and sustainable urban development. — DayakDaily
