The bid book for Gozo’s bid towards the European Region of Gastronomy – Gozo 2026 has been submitted by the Gozo Regional Council to the International Institute of Gastronomy Culture, Arts and Tourism for evaluation on the awarding of the prestigious title.

This submission is part of the candidacy bid that was initiated in April 2023.

After formalising a partnership agreement, the Regional Council, together with its stakeholders, meticulously crafted a 60-page bid book that highlights Gozo’s distinctive gastronomic identity.

This bid book will be the primary evaluation for the award, followed by a physical evaluation in February 2024.

In the competition for the title, Gozo is contesting with another island, Crete, and a region in Croatia, Kvarner.

The writing and creation of the bid book was done by the ARC team and Ponder & Pitch with assistance and coordination from the Gozo Regional Manager in charge of Culture.

The Council said that “continuous collaboration with stakeholders throughout the process aimed to ensure a unified vision for both the present and future of Gozo, focusing on sustainable growth within the sector.”

Around 23 diverse and intriguing projects were submitted by NGOs, all promoting Gozo’s Gastronomical future. Should the Region win the title for 2026, these projects will be implemented, the Council said.

The president of the Gozo Region, Dr. Samuel Azzopardi, remarked, “Gozo has a rich gastronomical and cultural identity. We are looking at ensuring the prevalent authenticity for years to come.”

The document is being published to the public as well and can be downloaded from the region’s website by clicking here.

Photo: GRC

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