UNESCO office in Paris introduced a list of 49 cities around the world recognized as creative cities of gastronomy on Monday, with Kermanshah on the list.

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

Kermanshah, a Kurdish city in westerns Iran, is among 49 cities which have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in recognition of their dedication to inserting tradition and creativity on the coronary heart of their growth and to sharing information and good practices.

Kermanshah has about 80 types of food, 11 sorts of bread, 20 types of sweets, and various kinds of snack, according to IRNA.

According to a release posted on the UNESCO site, the network now numbers 295 cities reaching 90 countries that invest in culture and creativity – crafts and folk art, design, film, gastronomy, literature, media arts, and music – to advance sustainable urban development.

“A new urban model needs to be developed in every city, with its architects, town planners, landscapers, and citizens,” said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay.

“We are urging everyone to work with States to reinforce the international cooperation between cities which UNESCO wishes to promote,” she added.

“Kermanshah has earned the title of ‘the city of food’, which is expected to lead to the prosperity of tourism in the city,” Kermanshah acting mayor, Amir Rahimi, said on Monday.

Iran is the paradise of foodies. Every province and even every city of Iran has its own specific delectable dishes. So, one can enjoy a wide range of foods here in Iran; and Kermanshah is one of the most popular places among foodies.

By joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), cities commit to sharing their best practices and developing partnerships involving the public and private sectors as well as civil society in order to strengthen the creation, production, distribution, and dissemination of cultural activities, goods, and services. They also pledge to develop hubs of creativity and innovation and broaden opportunities for creators and professionals in the cultural sector.

Rahimi told the state news agency that the designation would help increase tourism in the province.

The cities of Isfahan and Bandar Abbas were designated as creative cities of craft, Rasht as the creative city of gastronomy and Sanandaj as the creative city of music.

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