The Gastronomy Forum ends with 30,000 visitors

Girona (ACN).- The Fòrum Gastronòmic presented today the results of this year’s edition. The congress on cuisine and gastronomy is one of the most important of its kind in Europe. It was held in the Catalan city of Girona from Sunday 20^th of February to Wednesday 23^rd. This edition was the most professional yet. Organisers are now asking for the same treatment as “other fairs” within Spain, a clear reference to Madrid Fusión; they aime at receiving the same institutional support and having an impact on an international level.

The Fòrum Gastronòmic closed its doors having fulfilled “all the expectations”, stated the organisation. 30,000 visitors congregated at this edition, equalling last edition’s results. The sessions and conferences had an average occupation rate of 80%. The workshops reached had a 100% occupation rate. Michelin-star-awarded chefs like Carme Ruscalleda, Joan Roca and Ferran Adrià –whose restaurant is considered the best of the world– gave master classes.

This forum is the most important gastronomy event in Spain. However, the organisers criticised the lack of support they received from the Spanish public administration, which benefits “other fairs”, in a clear reference to Madrid Fusión.

The figures of the Fòrum Gastrònòmic give an idea of its size: 30,000 visitors, 15,000 square metres of exhibition space, 131 parallel activities, 154 speakers, and a budget of 1.3 million euros. This edition is the most professional, according to the organisers. 80% of the 30,000 visitors are chefs or gastronomy professionals, coming from all over the world. The chef Frank Cai, from the Beijing Hilton, the popular North-American chef Charlie Trotter, or the French cakemaker Chritophe Adam were some of the top international chefs present, besides the top Catalan and Spanish chefs.

Next year’s edition will be held in Santiago de Compostela, in Galicia, and the 2013 edition will come back to Girona. Many of the exhibitors confirmed their presence for next year, and some even asked for more exhibiting space.