Abstract
The present study examines the concepts of sustainability, creative economy, prosperity, gastroeconomy, and UNESCO creative cities, and discusses the momentum that gastronomy can gain by collaborating with tourism. The concepts discussed in the study are numerous; however, all of them are related to each other, and the conclusion includes recommendations. A high level of prosperity is one of the ultimate aspirations of every person in the world. In achieving this level of prosperity, it is necessary to be guided by the principles of economic, social, and environmental sustainability. In this study, creative cities in gastronomy are discussed within the framework of Türkiye. In particular, it has been argued that gastronomy tourism in these cities could contribute to both sustainability and prosperity.
TopIntroduction
Sustainability has become a concept that has been on the agenda, especially in recent years, and while the concept of sustainability is the spontaneous continuation of any situation or phenomenon, the act of sustaining means that this continuity is carried out by others. If something has sustainability, it is continuous (Kurnaz, 2017).
Conceptually, the most descriptive and broadest definition of sustainability is provided in the World Charter for Nature adopted by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) in 1982. Accordingly, sustainability is defined as ensuring a consumption method based on the optimum level of protection of atmospheric, land, and marine resources that all living things in the ecosystem benefit from (Gencer, 2023). The concept of sustainability is also defined in the literature as the state of sustainability of any situation, event, occurrence, or existing thing in a progressive process (Basiago, 1999). The concept of sustainability, taken from a broad perspective, suggests that people respect nature and act with the needs of future generations in mind. Therefore, the concept of environmental awareness and sustainability is an essential issue that ensures the survival of businesses, societies, and countries in the ever-evolving global competitive environment (Ipar, Babaç, & Kok, 2020). Sustainability and gastronomy is a concept that aims to improve the cultural and social structure that prioritizes the health of consumers as well as ecological sustainability, and the biggest factor in the growing importance of sustainability is diminishing resources. Sustainable gastronomy is a system that protects local producers and recommends that traditional products be unearthed, processed, and used by businesses that position their presence in the competitive environment. In this regard, it is essential that the product produced not harm the environment during the production process and in the future (Akay, Yılmaz, Cicek, 2023).
Sustainable development has three generally accepted pillars.
Table 1.
Principles of sustainable development
| Principles of Sustainable Development |
| Environmental Dimension | 1. Conservation of the Earth's life and diversity
2. Protection of life support systems
3. Sustainable use of renewable resources
4. Minimizing the use of non-renewable resources
5. Minimizing pollution and damage to the environment and the health of all living things
6. Protection of the cultural and historical environment |
| Social Dimension | 1. Allowing improvement in human quality of life
2. Promoting social justice among peoples
3. Taking cultural and social integrity into account
4. Raising self-confidence and self-will
5. Encouraging cooperation and participation in decision-making at all levels, from individual to international
6. Providing opportunities for community empowerment and capacity building |
| Economic Dimension | 1. Promoting justice across nations and generations
2. Avoiding unequal exchange
3. Avoiding the impoverishment of one group to enrich another group
4. Ensuring true cost pricing
5. Promoting ethical procurement and investment policies
6. Promoting equitable distribution of costs and benefits
7. Supporting local economies |
Source: Yayla, 2021.
Key Terms in this Chapter
Creative Cities: Cities where creativity is a strategic factor in urban development.
Sustainability: Sustainability is ability to maintain or support a process over time. It is often broken into three core concepts: economic, environmental, and social.
UNESCO: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) with the aim of promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences, and culture.
Creative Economy: It is based on people's use of their creative imagination to increase an idea's value.