“This harmony among society, territory, and quality serves as a distinctive hallmark for the entire Italian system and a powerful promotional tool. ENIT has therefore launched the ‘Italia Gourmet Bus’ project to celebrate Italian gastronomic culture and tourism appeal in major European capitals, which concludes this week in Rome. The enogastronomic tradition – the minister continues – has remained vibrant and authentic thanks to our ability to preserve cultural heritage, ensuring the essential transfer of practical and artisanal knowledge between generations, from home cooking to haute cuisine.”
“Our gastronomic offerings are already an essential pillar of the tourism industry. This sector generated over 40 billion euros in revenue in 2024, marking a 12% increase from the previous year. Furthermore, tourism linked to this sector is the primary reason for choosing Italy as a vacation destination and represents the largest spending category for travelers, with a value that in the first four months of 2025 has already reached 9 billion euros. Looking ahead – Santanchè adds – industry associations estimate that the potential UNESCO recognition of Italian cuisine could lead to an 8% increase in tourist flows over two years, equating to approximately 18 million additional overnight stays. Besides its direct tourism value, Italian cuisine plays a significant cultural role: it represents a shared identity trait among 59 million residents and an estimated community of up to 85 million people of Italian descent worldwide, thus strengthening a powerful transnational bond. Italian cuisine – the minister concludes – is now recognized as an ambassador of the Nation worldwide, a heritage we must protect, promote, and enhance even further. The success of this achievement is attributed to the efforts of everyone involved: industry professionals, trade associations, local governments, and importantly, the Government, which has believed in and supported the candidacy from the outset. We will work together to translate this prestigious outcome into structural growth for the sector and national pride.”
– Photo IPA Agency –
