Culinary as a Tourist Attraction, Indonesia Develops Gastronomy Tourism to Japan

JAKARTA - Gastronomic tourism is now one of the trends that is increasingly sought after by tourists in various countries. No longer just tasting food, the culinary experience is now seen as a gateway to understanding the culture, traditions, and identity of an area.

From the way of cooking to the story behind each dish, gastronomy is able to present a more in-depth and memorable travel experience.

Seeing this potential, the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism has expressed an interest in studying the development of gastronomic tourism from Japan through the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA). Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, assessed that Japan has managed to make culinary one of the main attractions in its tourism industry.

"We see how Japan has managed to make gastronomy an important part of its tourism appeal. Indonesia is also developing a similar approach through the Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy program," he said, as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, March 31.

In his meeting with the JTA, which was led by Commissioner Shigeki Murata, Widiyanti hoped that cooperation between the two countries could strengthen the development of the planned gastronomic network starting in 2026.

He also expressed Indonesia's interest in learning Japan's strategies in managing the tourism sector, including the country's ambitious target to attract up to 60 million foreign tourists by 2030.

This strategy is considered relevant to Indonesia's efforts to increase the competitiveness of tourism through the development of quality destinations and sustainable tourism management.

According to Widiyanti, gastronomy has an important role in building the identity of a country's tourism. Japan is considered successful in raising culinary as a main strength that strengthens its tourism image in the eyes of the world.

In addition, Indonesia is currently also leading the development of the ASEAN Gastronomy Network, which aims to connect culinary wealth, the agricultural sector, and cultural traditions as part of the tourism experience in the Southeast Asian region.

This meeting is expected to be the first step to deepen strategic cooperation between Indonesia and Japan, especially in sharing experiences and knowledge related to the development of innovative and sustainable tourism.

Through this collaboration, both countries are committed to strengthening joint promotion and developing a gastronomic tourism ecosystem that is capable of encouraging the growth of tourist visits while strengthening cultural exchange.