Lucknow, the historic ‘City of Nawabs,’ has officially been designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, becoming only the second Indian city, after Hyderabad, to receive this prestigious global recognition. The nation’s Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector may be the immediate target of the honor, even though it honors the city’s illustrious Awadhi culinary heritage.
According to Tourism Minister Shekhawat, this promotion immediately strengthens Lucknow’s reputation as a “leading destination for food and culture.” The distinction elevates Lucknow from a conventional vacation spot to one with strong cultural significance, which is essential for drawing in international conferences and business incentive travel.
The city is “synonymous with a vibrant culture, at the core of which is a great culinary culture,” according to Prime Minister Modi. This translates into an unquestionable opportunity for MICE organizers: top-notch culinary experiences, such as the delicate dum pukht cuisine or the well-known galouti kebabs, can now be the distinctive experiential element of any conference or trade show.
Competing cities lack the distinctive, internationally recognized selling point that the recognition provides, making it a potent marketing tool. It gives event coordinators a pre-made theme for dinners, spousal programs, and hospitality. Additionally, the UNESCO network encourages global cooperation, creating opportunities for the city to host specialized culinary or food-industry-related conventions and exhibitions, which directly boosts the bottom line of the MICE sector through culture-led economic growth. Lucknow is now firmly established as a destination for high-end business travel due to the international attention given to its distinctive culinary identity.
