Italian cuisine Unesco heritage, from Meloni to Giuli: 'Historic goal'

A 'historic goal' according to the Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanchè: 'This is the worldwide recognition of a cultural model that is an integral part of our national identity and, at the same time, a strategic asset of great relevance for the Italian economic fabric. The success of our culinary excellence lies in a winning and stainless apparatus in which all elements operate in synergy. Its heart is conviviality and social value, which binds families and communities and is inextricably linked to the wealth of our territories, promoting the protection of local products'.

"It is precisely this harmony between society, territory and quality," added Santanchè, "that constitutes a true distinctive quality factor for the entire Italian system and a powerful promotional tool, so much so that Enit has launched the project 'Italia Gourmet Bus', to celebrate Italian food and wine culture and tourist attractiveness in the main European capitals, and which will end this week in Rome. Our food and wine offer is already an indispensable pillar of the tourism industry. The sector generated a turnover of over 40 billion euro in 2024, marking a 12% growth over the previous year'.

'Italy has won and it is a celebration that belongs to everyone because it speaks of our roots, our creativity and our ability to transform tradition into a universal value,' said the Minister of Agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida. 'The award celebrates the strength of our culture that is national identity, pride and vision. Italian cuisine is the story of all of us, of a people that has guarded its knowledge and transformed it into excellence, generation after generation. It is the celebration of families who hand down ancient flavours, of farmers who look after the land, of producers who work with passion, of restaurateurs who bring the authentic value of Italy to the world. My deepest thanks go to them and to those who have worked with dedication for this candidacy'.

"With the inclusion of Italian cuisine in the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity,' said the Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, Italy recognises and enhances a collective good that tells of our roots, our identity, communities and the biodiversity of territories. Recognition by Unesco marks a historic milestone: it is not a single dish that is protected, but the entire system of Italian cuisine, understood as a living heritage made up of practices, rituals, respect for seasonality and the transmission of intergenerational knowledge'.

The kitchen, therefore, 'confirms its identity, cultural and social value,' added Giuli, 'as well as its role in the construction of a shared collective memory. The fact alone that our being at the table, our uniquely Italian way of being together, is heir to so many rituals, that our 'Sunday lunch', our convivial moments on festive occasions, are elements of a very ancient tradition that is constantly evolving, says it all. Our dishes are an expression of our territories, of our family roots, that cross generations. Italian cuisine reflects Italian civilisation

The Consortia are also proud. Like that of Tutela della Mozzarella di Bufala Campana Dop, which considers the recognition of Italian cuisine, with "its system based on identity and tradition", to be "right". According to President Domenico Raimondo, 'it is a winning model' but 'there is a need for a vast awareness and education campaign, especially among the younger generations, given that the group between 25 and 44 years of age is the one that cooks less and less, resorts more frequently to delivery and orders 24% of ready meals, according to the Italian Cuisine report'.

The president of the Grana Padano Consortium, Renato Zaghini, reiterated his commitment to preserving and enhancing this intangible heritage, helping to keep it alive and meaningful for future generations. The recognition 'marks the beginning of a new phase: a shared responsibility to preserve what makes Italian cuisine a unique model of food culture, humanity and collective memory'.

"Peasant cooks together with farmers from all over Italy are celebrating the inscription of Italian cuisine among Unesco's intangible heritages," commented Coldiretti and Campagna Amica, "an acknowledgement that is rooted in the culinary tradition of the countryside and in the richness of a thousand regional dishes. Italian cuisine is worth a good 251 billion euros in the world today'.

The recognition of Italian cuisine as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by Unesco"opens a new phase for tourism in our country" according to estimates by Cst for Confesercenti. "The effect on tourist attractiveness could translate into an increase in foreign presences of between 6% and 8% in the first two years, for a total of about 18 million additional tourist presences. In 2024, foreign visitors spent EUR 12.08 billion in restaurants, bars and public establishments, 7.5% more than in 2023. Anticipations for 2025 indicate a further increase, with an expected total of around EUR 12.68 billion, a growth of 5%. Added to this are tourist trips motivated by food and wine, which already generate 9 billion euros in direct expenditure: a figure that confirms the role of Italian cuisine as one of the main factors in the choice of destination. The Unesco recognition, according to the study, will tend to amplify these dynamics'.

"The Unesco recognition of Italian cuisine also goes to us farmers, who guarantee primary production," said the national president of Confagricoltura Massimiliano Giansanti in his speech.