UNESCO launched a project called creative cities in 2004, organizing member cities into seven creative fields: crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music.
Prior to the recent announcement, 36 cities in 28 countries were introduced as creative cities of gastronomy.
In Iran, Esfahan and Bandar Abbas have been selected as creative cities of crafts, Rasht as the creative city of gastronomy, and Sanandaj as the creative city of music.
And now, Kermanshah has been recognized as he 37th creative city of gastronomy by UNESCO. Kermanshah Province in western Iran has about 80 types of food, 11 types of bread, 20 types of pastry, and various kinds of snack.
Acting mayor of Kermanshah Amir Rahimi said that the municipality has been trying for over 18 months to hold meetings with activists.
He also said that the secretary general of Iranian National Commission for UNESCO paid a visit to Kermanshah and was introduced to various types of foods in the city.
Rahimi said that the municipality was going to establish a ‘house of food’ and the recognition of the city as creative city of gastronomy would help tourism.