GASTOUR – non-wood forest-based gastronomy and ecotourism international conference – call for presentations

This year, April 18-19, 2024 will be organized for the first time in the "“GASTOUR – non-wood forest-based gastronomy and ecotourism”"international conference on Bükk Circle and the Green Destionations organized by Innotime Hungary Kft., which represents Hungary, Romania and Slovakia, and for which we are looking forward to receiving applications from speakers. 

The focus of the conference is on exploring how forest raw materials and other raw materials from zero kilometers can be incorporated into gastronomy, how gastrotourism programs can be built around this, and how a sustainable, unique destination tourism offering that can brand the region can be built from this. 

In recent years, the members of the Bükki Circle have developed a special gastrotourism program package themselves, centered on the discovery and focus on the edible treasures of the forest, which has now grown into an independent destination tourism brand. The aim of the conference, in addition to presenting the achieved results, is to think together with domestic and foreign leading figures in the gastrotourism profession about the tourism product development opportunities and directions of gastronomy based on forest raw materials and local products, and how all this can contribute to the development of sustainable tourism and the achievement of the SDGs. 

Conference language: Hungarian and English ((We provide simultaneous interpretation at plenary sessions)

The conference organizing committee: 

Bükk Circle: 

• Enikő Angyal – Globus Travel – LOVENORDHUNGARY DMC Managing Director
• Krisztina Borda – Hotel Palota Hotel Manager
• Henrietta Varga – Owner of Xyztámas Wine and Bistro

On behalf of the Hungarian representation of Green Destinations: 

• Nagy Júlia – Managing Director of Innotime Hungary Kft – Destination Management Expert
• Csenge Adriányi – Innotime Hungary Kft sustainable tourism expert
• Kedves Csaba – Innotime Hungary Kft owner – managing director – cultural tourism expert

We are looking for speakers on the following topics: 

• Sustainability in gastronomy, sustainable restaurants
• Sustainable event planning 
• Education and promotion – or how to shape guests' dining culture? 
• Changing mindset in hospitality – ecological approach, trends
• Cooperation for sustainable gastronomy – farmers, producers
• Countryside vs. Budapest in gastronomy (is there a difference? what is the difference? should the differences be bridged?) 
• Sustainable tourism – sustainable gastronomy (English section)
• Education and promotion – how to shape the dining culture of guests? (English section)

Application: By submitting a 1000-character Hungarian and 1000-character English abstract via the following link. The presentation language can be Hungarian or English.  

https://forms.gle/9xzBfgL6XvaLptgL9 

Application deadline: February 28, 2024. 

Information about acceptance of the application: March 15, 2024. 

Conference location: Hotel Palota, Lillafured

There is no registration fee for conference speakers. 

The organization of the conference is supported by the Visegrad Fund. 

The conference venue is the Palotaszálló in Lillafüred, one of the organizers of the Edible Forest programs.

April 17: Green Destinations international workshop

On day 0 of the conference, we will hold an international sustainable tourism training program How to prepare for international sustainable tourism certification? The gross fee for participation in the professional day is 65,000 HUF, of which we provide a 50% discount for conference speakers. 

The training program presents the elements of preparation for service providers and destinations in two dimensions:

The morning session will focus on sustainable destination and settlement management, presenting the Green Destinations certification and the partnership between service providers and destinations, listening to presentations from experts and our guest speakers sharing their own experiences.

After lunch, we will present the possibilities of sustainable management of tourism businesses. In this session, entrepreneurs and destination managers alike will receive valuable advice and practical examples on how to manage and qualify businesses in a sustainable way.

The day will conclude with an interactive assessment workshop, which will provide everyone with practical methods to assess how they meet the basic sustainability requirements, and will create an opportunity to exchange experiences and learn together.

The preparatory program will feature distinguished guest speakers sharing their valuable experiences on sustainability initiatives and outcomes in their own destinations or businesses, contributing to enriching the knowledge of the participants. This day provides an opportunity for participants to gain a deeper understanding and application of sustainability principles at both the destination and business levels.