Fifty islands. One shared gastronomic identity. One global goal. The first Greek region to apply for this international distinction, with a plan that unites 50 islands, gastronomy, culture and sustainability.
The South Aegean is taking the next big step in its international journey, officially submitting its candidacy for the title of World Region of Gastronomy 2028. Following its designation as European Region of Gastronomy in 2019, it becomes the first Greek region to vie for this prestigious international distinction.
The South Aegean Regional Council approved the Regional Authority's proposal to submit the candidacy and authorized the Regional Governor of the South Aegean, Giorgos Hatzimarkos, to complete the bid process, marking the start of a new, even more ambitious phase for the islands' gastronomic identity.
This candidacy is not a fresh start. It is the next step in a strategy that began in 2014, when Giorgos Hatzimarkos took office as Regional Governor, with a pivotal milestone in this journey in 2019, the year the South Aegean was recognized as the first European Region of Gastronomy in Greece. This twelve-year journey proved that the 2019 distinction was not a symbolic title, but the starting point of a coherent policy that delivered measurable results. Over the course of this path:
- More than 40 festivals and gastronomic events have been and continue to be supported every year.
- Participation by producers in leading international exhibitions has been strengthened, from EXPOTROF and FOODEXPO to SIAL Paris.
- The international reach of local products has expanded.
- New chefs have emerged as ambassadors of the islands' gastronomic identity, while gastronomy has been gradually integrated into the Region's strategy for tourism, education, and sustainable development.
Through a systematic investment, gastronomy was transformed from an element of local tradition into one of the South Aegean's strongest competitive advantages, acting as a driver of growth, outward reach, and international visibility.
A broad alliance of stakeholders
This candidacy does not belong to a single body, but to the people of the entire archipelago. For this purpose, the South Aegean Regional Stakeholders Committee was formed, a strong institutional alliance that co-signs the bid for the title. The Committee includes representation from chambers, the academic community, the hospitality sector, cultural associations, master chefs, and winemakers.
- South Aegean Region in the role of coordinator
- Development Organization of the Region of the South Aegean “K2”
- South Aegean Regional Development Fund
- Dodecanese Chamber
- Cyclades Chamber
- University of the Aegean
- Rhodes Hoteliers Association
- Kos Hoteliers Association
- Santorini Hoteliers Association
- Federation of Cultural Associations of Rhodes
- Chefs Club of the Dodecanese and the Cyclades
- Union of Winemakers & Vine Growers of the Aegean Islands (ENOANA)
These twelve bodies form the foundation of the alliance, which remains open to the immediate participation of new social, industry, cultural, and economic partners.
The Bid Plan: More than 50 Initiatives
The candidacy for 2028 unfolds a comprehensive strategy that includes more than 50 targeted initiatives, aiming to showcase the island gastronomic model on a global scale.The content of the bid is based on strengthening existing successful actions as well as creating new flagship institutions (flagship projects). At the center are:
- Gastronomic routes | Cultural & gastronomic experiences by island
- Gastro Zero Waste | Gastronomy without waste
- Agri-food businesses | Support and international outreach for producers & new market
- Educational actions | Youth, schools, vocational training
- Heritage archive | Audiovisual documentation of gastronomic tradition
- Dialogue among island regions | South Aegean as coordinator
The Regional Governor of the South Aegean, Giorgos Hatzimarkos, who conceived and set this new international bid in motion, stated:
«Across the fifty inhabited islands and the hundreds of smaller islets of the South Aegean, the history of our archipelago has always been written through the land, the sea, and the people who bring them together. With this deep sense of identity, we proudly vie today for the title of World Region of Gastronomy for 2028.
The South Aegean is a mosaic of islands, each one unique, yet all united under shared values: authenticity, resilience, and deep respect for tradition and nature. Our gastronomy reflects precisely this richness. It is wisdom born of necessity, simplicity, local ingredients, time-tested techniques, and a culture of hospitality that turns every meal into a meaningful connection. Our islands stand today on the front line of the climate crisis, yet we turn our ancient roots into a legacy for the future. Through innovative, pioneering sustainability projects –such as those already being implemented on Tilos, Halki, Astypalea, and Rhodes, we are making our islands living laboratories of regenerative tourism. With the 2019 title we honored our past. With the candidacy for 2028, we look ahead with even greater ambition and take on the responsibility: to innovate, to protect our ecosystems, and to shape a global development model that is sustainable and inclusive. Because in the South Aegean, food has never been just sustenance. It is a way of life. It is our way of belonging. And on this journey, we invite the whole world to become part of us.»
From European distinction to a Global Island Model
The South Aegean's candidacy is based on the fact that the Region has a strong foundation, expertise, and tangible results to serve as an international model of island gastronomy, biodiversity, and sustainable development. By bringing the particularities of island food systems (limited resources, traditional preservation techniques, an inseparable bond with the community) into the international dialogue, the South Aegean demonstrates that gastronomy can be the ultimate engine for a sustainable and secure future for the planet. The journey has begun, the momentum is there, and the South Aegean is ready to take center stage, once again, on the world's gastronomic map.
