Dénia wants to be declared a City of Gastronomy by UNESCO

Sponsored by the president of AETHMA, Rafa Codina, and the international prestige chef and adopted son of Dénia, Quique Dacosta, the mayor of Dénia, Ana Kringe, and the Councilor for Tourism, Pepa Font, have presented an ambitious project for Dénia be declared City of Gastronomy by UNESCOWithin the Creative Cities Network.

For weeks the tourism department is maturing this idea, which also represents the line to follow in the area over the next four years. If it is finally achieved, will be a great attraction for tourists, and different actions and events throughout the year that promote our cuisine will be made.

Among other actions to promote the candidacy of Dénia, Font has announced that the contest Arroz a Banda under a new format will resume and Gastronomical Days.

But until that happens there is a long way to go: the creation of a management team of the bid, which will bring together representatives of AETHMA, the CDT, María Ibars Institute, Fishermen's Association and all culinary areas of the city; the drafting of the report showing that Dénia meets all eligibility criteria and the submission of the application at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris. The intention is to present it before next summer, and it is estimated that in 2013 the final decision of the Director General of UNESCO will be known.

Rafa Codina, president of AETHMA, has been convinced that Dénia can achieve it although the road is going to be hard, as has Quique Dacosta, who in addition to being absolutely committed to the project, has stated that "it seems that the reports are done so that Dénia can achieve it.

The title of City of Gastronomy I currently hold three cities in the world: Popayan (Colombia), Cheng Du (China) and Ostersund (Sweden), and two other candidates today, TaiPei and Spanish Vic.