Lankaran
Located in a diverse and multicultural area, Lankaran has been at the core of a rich agricultural region. The city has a recognized importance for significant natural, cultural and historical heritage and has been for decades the centre of agriculture and gastronomy in the entire region of the South Caucasus, contributing largely to the development of the non-oil economy. Dominating areas of Lankaran’s economy are vegetable, tea, and paddy cultivation, as well as cattle-breeding, beekeeping, fishing, and grain farming. The favorable humid subtropical climate, the availability of good arable land, water and sufficient labor resources provides a good basis for agricultural activities as well as the development of agro-processing enterprises. The city hosts a large number of local, national and international events aimed at promoting the gastronomy sector. These include, most importantly, the three editions of the famous Tea, Rice, and Citrus Festival of Lankaran. The festival brings together tea and citrus farmers, chefs, local associations, enterprises, and professionals of gastronomy tourism. In 2019, Lankaran gastronomy accounts for 36.9% of the city’s income, with more than 15,400 employed people, including professionals, farmers, chefs, restaurant holders and staff, as well as teachers and students. Gastronomy plays a major role in the city’s creative economy and has thus enormous potential with regards to the city’s sustainable development.
As a Creative City of Gastronomy, the following steps will be important:
- Enhancing creation, production, distribution and dissemination of products and services in the field of gastronomy and developing opportunities for creators;
- Strengthening synergies with other creative field covered by the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, such as crafts and folk art and design;
- Enhancing cooperation among the cities that have recognized gastronomy and other related areas of creativity as strategic drivers for urban development; and
- Creating greater opportunities for students, creators, professionals and civil society for exchange, networking and knowledge sharing.
