Vegan Festival, Ministry Of Tourism And Creative Economy Support To Present Non-Employment Local Culinary

Illustration of healthy food (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/The Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf) supports the implementation of "The 12th WVO Conference and International Vegan Festival 2024" which will take place from 12 to 17 November 2024 at Taman Anggrek Mall, Jakarta.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Menparekraf/Kaparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno supports the implementation of international events that will strengthen Indonesia's position as a friendly host for the vegan community, namely the lifestyle community that avoids consuming animal food and products.

"This is the 12th event and I have come several times to this event," said Menparekraf Sandiaga in "The Final Episode of Weekly Brief With Sandi Uno" at Sapta Pesona Building, Central Jakarta, Monday (14/10/2024).

President of the World Vegan Organization (WVO) & Vegan Society of Indonesia (VSI), Susianto, said there would be many differences in the implementation of the Vegan Festival this time. If previously the vegan conference and festival were held on a national scale, this time it would be made on a larger scale, namely by inviting the vegan community from an international level.

"This event is indeed bigger because it is on an international scale. This time we are very happy because this could be an activity for follow-up and a forum to celebrate National Vegan Day on October 1," said Susianto.

The festival will later feature hundreds of typical domestic vegan culinary delights that can show how rich the vegan-based culinary variety is. The vegan archipelago cuisine will be presented at national vegan culinary parades and exhibitions.

"So actually, if we remember that our archipelago food is plant-based, but because of the influence from outside so that there are many who mix with animal foods. So if we look at it like ketoprak, gado-gado, pecel rice, gudeg, this is plant-based and the nutrition is very high," said Susianto.

The same thing was said by Chair of The 12th WVO Conference & International Vegan Festival 2024, Yenny Halim. He said later this festival would be a gathering place for vegetarians and vegans. However, this event is also open to the general public so that they can find out or even try vegan-based food.

"We are compiling a series of event programs, one of which is a bazaar. In this bazaar, we will present various kinds of vegetarian and vegan menus presented by MSMEs that are as creative as possible and can be enjoyed, not only vegetarians and vegans but all those people can try and enjoy them," said Yenny Halim.

Director of National and International Events of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Fransiskus Handoko, said this event would strengthen Indonesia's position as a friendly host for the vegan community, as well as encourage collaboration with local MSMEs that produce vegan food and creative products.

This activity will also support the development of wellness tourism and create new jobs. Collaboration with MSMEs will strengthen the creative economy ecosystem, especially in the culinary field of vegan which is growing rapidly in Indonesia.

"Of course we appreciate this so that we not only accommodate vegan friends but also increase the benefits of providing plant-based foods to tourists. Our support is of course in the form of promotional amplification so that it is hoped that in the future this will also strengthen the potential for wellness tourism in Indonesia," said Frans.