#SongkhlaGASTRONOMY

During 29-31 August 2025, Songkhla organized the 3rd International Conference on Gastronomy, on the topic of “Creative Cities for the Sustainability of the Songkhla Lake”. The attendees included representatives from seven UNESCO creative cities: Belo Horizonte (Brazil), Macao (China), Thessaloniki (Greece), Phuket, Phetchaburi, Suphanburi, and Chiang Mai. The event successfully highlighted Songkhla’s potential to become one of the leading gastronomy centers in the region.

The exploration of local ingredient producers included sustainable sea bass farming in Songkhla Lake Basin, and how traditional aquaculture connects with regional gastronomy. We also saw how traditional palm sugar production in the Sathing Phra Peninsula has evolved into a community enterprise, combining local knowledge with modern technology.

A knowledge-sharing session led by the visiting UNESCO Creative City Focal Points discussed sustainable development through culture and creativity. One delicious outcome was co-creation menus using Songkhla’s local ingredients, which highlighted culinary creativity as a driver for tourism and MICE.

The final session of the meeting encouraged the cities’ focal point, chefs, artists, and local entrepreneurs to share their exciting visions for sustainable culinary and creative city development in Songkhla.