The southern region of Saudi Arabia, Asir, has been nominated as a global culinary region for 2024, a move that now makes it one of five regions from around the world to compete for the prize from the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism (IGCAT).
The Saudi Culinary Arts Commission shared a tweet with the recent announcement, and what it aims to achieve. According to the commission, the nomination is intended to help feature Saudi gastronomy on a world stage. At the same time, this will make the people of Asir take pride in their culinary talents, while supporting coordination between local bodies in promoting Asir domestically and internationally.
Furthermore, if Asir does win the prize, the Culinary Arts Commission is seeking to promote sustainable tourism through this endeavor, in addition to providing new skills and opportunities, and raising awareness on nutritional issues.
In fact, Asir is known for its traditional dishes, many of which have been passed down through generations. The region’s cooler climate makes it ideal for agriculture and livestock, and its people, although using similar ingredients as the rest of the Kingdom, are known to use unique techniques on their cuisines.
IGCAT is a nonprofit institute working with regional stakeholder consortiums in the fields of gastronomy, culture, arts, and tourism. Established in 2012, it relies on the expertise of a global network of experts, while building partnerships with intergovernmental organizations. Its main objective is to empower local communities, while raising awareness to protect and support regional food, culture, arts and natural assets as “part of sustainable and balanced tourism and development strategies.”
Asir has been nominated as a global culinary region for 2024, according to KSA's Culinary Arts Commission.
— About Her (@AboutHerOFCL) February 19, 2022
The nomination helps the Saudi region qualify for an award from the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism—granted every year to 5 regions. pic.twitter.com/zRqreD7tKA
Currently, what Asir hopes to achieve is the “Region of Gastronomy Award.” This was initially awarded to European regions before the decision was made to make it global in 2019. In the following year, the Region of Gastronomy Award was awarded internationally for the first time in IGCAT’s history.
