JEDDAH: Independent experts from the International Institute of Gastronomy, Culture, Arts and Tourism have concluded their visit to Asir, approving the region for the 2024 Region of Gastronomy Award. In a press conference held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Abha on Tuesday, IGCAT officials accepted the nomination of Asir to compete in the contest for the prestigious award. The conference was held in collaboration with the Saudi Heritage Preservation Society and the Saudi Culinary Art Commission. Two weeks ago, Saudi Arabia announced it had nominated Asir as a global culinary region for 2024 to help it qualify for the international award offered by IGCAT, which is granted every year to five regions worldwide. According to Saudi Arabia’s Culinary Arts Commission, the nomination intends to encourage local communities to take pride in their culture and creative capabilities in the culinary sector. IGCAT’s standards for winning the award focus on six main areas including sustainable food production; innovation, creativity and employment opportunities; education for the future; balanced and sustainable tourism; linking urban and rural areas; and creating a healthier lifestyle. The award grants the winning region several advantages, the most important of which is highlighting the region’s culinary heritage at the international level. According to the IGCAT website, the award aims to highlight distinctive food cultures, stimulate creativity and gastronomic innovation, educate for better nutrition, improve sustainable tourism standards, and strengthen community well-being. The Abha Chamber of Commerce and Industry described the nomination as a big support to the region’s local culinary arts that can attract global tourists to Asir. “This can increase the region’s tourism marketing opportunities and introduce it as a distinguished global culinary arts destination. It can also encourage local communities to be proud of their culture and creativity in this field,” the chamber said in a statement on its website. The Asir region, abundant in natural beauty, possesses all the necessary elements to win the award. Its Soudah Mountain, over 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) above sea level, is rich in honeybees, making the area one of the best places to produce different types of honey, a staple of the Asir dining table. The region also claims plentiful juniper trees and is known for its friendly, hospitable residents and their deep-rooted customs and traditional dishes, such as areeka, aseeda, tasabea and haneeth. Last November, UNESCO included the Saudi city of Buraidah in its Creative Cities Network for its achievements in gastronomy.