Phetchaburi, Thailand, November 26, 2021 / TRAVELINDEX / The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is pleased to announce that Phetchaburi Province has been added as Thailand's newest member to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of gastronomy.

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Phetchaburi is the fifth province in Thailand to receive the UCCN title, following Phuket being named Creative City of Gastronomy in 2015, Chiang Mai Creative City of Handicrafts and Folk Art in 2017, Bangkok Creative City of Design in 2019, and Sukhothai Creative City of Handicrafts and Folk Art in 2019.

Mr. Yuthasak Supasorn, Governor of the TAT, said: “The inclusion of Phetchaburi in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network as a Creative City of Gastronomy is very welcome and comes at just the right time, as gastronomy is a key element of the new tourism marketing campaign ‘Visit Thailand Year 2022’.”

Located about 160 km south of Bangkok, the province of Phetchaburi is known for producing high-quality sea salt, limes, palm sugar, rose apples, pineapples, bananas, and many other products. This has earned it the nickname "City of Three Flavors"—salty, sweet, and sour. The "farm-to-table" model is also prevalent in the province: farmers deliver fresh produce and seafood directly to food retailers, manufacturers, and private households.

Phetchaburi is known for a number of popular local dishes and for the production of certain foodstuffs. Local recipes passed down through generations, the cuisine of the royal courts of Ayutthaya and Rattanakosin, as well as Chinese and Mon cuisine, blend together to create unique dishes from Phetchaburi.

Among the well-known dishes that reflect Phetchaburi's cultural roots are Kaeng Kua Hua Tan (Toddy Palm Curry), Khanom Cheen Thotman (fermented rice flour noodles with fried fish cake), Khao Chae (water-soaked rice with various side dishes) and Kuaitiao Nam Daeng (noodles in red soup).

Tourists visiting Phetchaburi can combine the delicious cuisine with exploring the various sights. These include the historical park Phra Nakhon Khiri, also known locally as Khao Wang (meaning "hill with palace"), with its palace and temple buildings on a hill overlooking the city; the temples Wat Mahathat Worawihan, Wat Kamphaeng Laeng, and Wat Yai Suwannaram; as well as picturesque beaches, of which Cha-am is the most famous.

Last but not least, Kaeng Krachan National Park, which spans parts of the provinces of Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Ratchaburi, is Thailand's largest national park at 464,000 hectares. It is renowned for its wildlife viewing opportunities, hiking trails, and the "Sea of ​​Mist" during the cooler months from November to February. The park also encompasses the Kaeng Krachan Forest Complex, which was recently added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The UCCN was founded in 2004 to foster collaboration among cities that recognize creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development. The network comprises seven membership categories – crafts and folk art, media arts, film, design, gastronomy, literature, and music – and currently includes around 250 cities worldwide. These cities work together toward a common goal: to place creativity and the cultural economy at the heart of their local development plans and to actively cooperate internationally.