Plans to Obtain UNESCO City of Gastronomy Recognition for Singapore

73 Ms Ng Ling Ling asked the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth in respect of the Ministry's and Singapore Tourism Board’s marketing plans to promote Singapore as a culinary capital, whether the Government is also planning to have Singapore recognised as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO's) City of Gastronomy as the country's gastronomy scenes have met most of the criteria set by UNESCO.

Mr Edwin Tong Chun Fai: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network's (UCCN's) guidelines stipulate that each city can be recognised in only one creative field at any given time. As Singapore has been designated as a Creative City of Design under UCCN, we currently have no plans to seek UCCN recognition as a City of Gastronomy.

The Government continues to promote our food and beverage offerings globally through various initiatives, as outlined in the written answer by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade and Industry for the Sitting on 26 February 2025. [Please refer to "Plans to Promote and Support Local and Heritage Food and Beverage Operators in Singapore and Overseas", Official Report, 26 February 2025, Vol 95, Issue 153, Written Answers to Questions section.]