Dr Ubaldino Couto, Assistant Professor and Academic Coordinator of the Faculty's Tourism Event Management programme, was recently invited to Samut Songkhram province, Thailand, to deliver a keynote address titled From the Kitchen Table to the World Stage: The Case of Macao.
Drawing on Macao's experience as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy (UCCN), Dr Couto explored the instrumental role of Macanese cuisine as the city's distinctive ethnic food tradition, as well as the broader potential of leveraging such a designation to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The special event brought together key community stakeholders, researchers, and students, who gathered to learn from Macao's successful experience and from Dr Couto's perspectives on the 'festivalisation' strategy—an approach he has long advocated for cities seeking to develop sustainably by harnessing their innate cultural resources.
The keynote formed a key component of a wider collaboration between Silpakorn University and Samut Songkhram province, aimed at supporting research that leverages the food economy for community engagement and sustainable urban revitalisation. Dr Couto was also invited to take part in other activities, such as community performances, cultural workshops and weekend markets to strengthen the quality of life of local people.
