JAKARTA – Gastronomic tourism is one of the most sought-after trends among travelers in many countries today. It is no longer just about tasting food, the culinary experience is now seen as a gateway to understanding the culture, traditions and identity of a region.
From how to cook to the stories behind each dish, gastronomy can provide a deeper and more memorable travel experience.
Given this potential, the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism has shown its interest in studying the development of gastronomic tourism with Japan via the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA). Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said Japan had succeeded in making cuisine one of the main attractions of its tourism industry.
“We see how Japan has made gastronomy an important part of its tourist appeal. Indonesia is also developing a similar approach through the Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy program,” he said, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday March 31.
During his meeting with the JTA led by Commissioner Shigeki Murata, Widiyanti hoped that cooperation between the two countries could strengthen the development of the gastronomic network planned from 2026.
He also expressed Indonesia’s keen interest in studying Japan’s strategy in managing the tourism sector, including the country’s ambitious goal of attracting up to 60 million foreign tourists by 2030.
This strategy is considered relevant to Indonesia’s efforts to improve tourism competitiveness through the development of quality destinations and sustainable tourism management.
According to Widiyanti, gastronomy plays an important role in building a country’s tourism identity. Japan is considered to have succeeded in making cuisine a major force that strengthens the country’s tourist image in the eyes of the world.
Additionally, Indonesia is currently leading the development of the ASEAN Gastronomy Network, which aims to connect culinary wealth, agricultural sector and cultural traditions as part of the tourism experience in the Southeast Asian region.
This meeting should be a first step to deepen strategic cooperation between Indonesia and Japan, particularly in sharing experiences and knowledge regarding the development of innovative and sustainable tourism.
Through this collaboration, the two countries are committed to strengthening joint promotion and developing a gastronomic tourism ecosystem capable of encouraging the growth of tourist visits while strengthening cultural exchanges.
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