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astronomy is the best ambassador for any country .” Or at least this is what the United Nations World Tourism Organisation ( UNWTO ) general secretary , Zurab Pololikashvili , believes .

In early November the Basque Culinary Center ( BCC ), Visit Flanders and the city of Bruges hosted the 6th UNWTO World Forum on Gastronomy Tourism . Destination representatives , gastronomy experts and inter-governmental figures came from all parts of the world to attend this hybrid event . A major thrust of

this forum aimed to emphasise how gastronomy could be used to develop ‘ rural tourism and regional development ’.

The underlying message throughout the conference ’ s seminars , discussions and activities was the capacity that gastronomy has in creating meaningful connections between visitors and the destinations . What a region eats and drinks are intrinsically linked to its culture , heritage and identity ; in effect , you are what you eat .

Or for Abduleah Al-Tokhais , assistant professor at the College of Tourism and Archaeology at King Saud

: Oliver Thomas ( right ) at the UNWTO Gastronomy Forum Below : Bruges

University , Saudi Arabia , you are what you drink . As he spoke about the role of coffee in preserving the identity of the Saudi Arabian region of Jazan , Al-Tokhais stated how “ the most important thing for tourists is to have an authentic experience .” He believes connecting tourists with the Saudi region ’ s long history of coffee production is critical to creating original connections between visitors and the region of Jazan . This authenticity comes from making visitors feel as if they have really