Multilevel Governance and Sustainability in the Unesco Creative Cities of Gastronomy in Spain

This study aims to analyze and understand Multilevel Governance within the context of UNESCO's Creative Cities of Gastronomy (CCGs) about achieving the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), driven by the promotion of tourism and the creative economy, particularly in light of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Burgos and Dénia were selected as case studies, as they are the current CCGs in Spain. It is considered timely to adopt this approach to understand how Multilevel Governance is intertwined with the studies and practices of the 55 Creative Cities of Gastronomy worldwide, especially from the perspective of the Creative Economy. The central research question is: How does governance occur in UNESCO’s Creative Cities of Gastronomy in Spain in relation to achieving the UN SDGs? The methodology employed corresponds to critical content analysis based on field observation and documentary research. The results highlight the dynamics of the social actors involved in the governance of CCGs within the Spanish context, reaffirming proposals for cultural valorization through daily and occasional expressions of (de)territoriality that mobilize and connect tourists and local enterprises. On the other hand, evidence of clear, comprehensible connections among the actors regarding the achievement of the SDGs remains limited.