The World Tourism Day 2014 highlights how tourism can be conducive to advancing sustainable development from the grassroots level. Community based tourism, including food travel activities, involves local communities in the decision making process according to local priorities.

To commemorate World Tourism Day 2014, last month Omar Niode Foundation in collaboration with the World Food Travel Association and the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy organized a Seminar on Exploring Food Tourism and its Business.

As the main speaker was Erik Wolf, a pioneer in the world food tourism industry, founder of the World Food Travel Association and a resource person for international media such as CNN, BBC, Arirang Korea, Sky Media UK and the Wall Street Journal.

"Food Tourism is the pursuit and enjoyment of unique and memorable food and drink experiences, both far and near,” said Erik Wolf. "The benefits of food tourism," he continued, "is the increase in the number of tourists, sales and tax revenues; new competitive advantage; community awareness on tourism, food & beverage unique to their area, as well as the amount of media coverage."

Various data indicate that the contribution of food tourism to the economy of many countries is about 25%. In 2007 the value of food tourism in the United States amounted to 52 billion USD, while in 2010 the value in Canada was around 9 billion CDN. In Indonesia the contribution of culinary sector to the GDP of Indonesia in 2013 reached Rp. 209 trillion.

The seminar organizer hoped 1) to introduce food tourism and its benefits, 2) to share information on global and Indonesia's food tourism, 3) to explore opportunities in food tourism business and 4) to reflect upon the responsibilities of travelers visiting other communities.

According to the World Food Travel Association, food tourism industry covers 20 broad terms categorized in groups

1) Food & Beverage (restaurants, bars, all food & drink service; food producers & manufacturers; food & drink distributors; cooking schools & classes; culinary events, culinary retail & grocery; farmers & farmers market);

2) Travel & Hospitality (destination marketing organizations; culinary tour operators, guides, packages and travel agents; culinary lodging; culinary attractions; meetings and conventions);

3) Related Groups (trade groups & associations; students and researchers; media, professional services; technology platforms; government; and

4) Consumers.

In addition to Erik Wolf, other resource persons in the seminar on Exploring Food Travel and its Business were Ade Putri Paramaditha, a Foodtective, a very experienced food traveler, and Rudiana, a practitioner in the tourism industry. Also speaking was Arie Parikesit from Kelana Rasa, the coordinator of Culinary Heritage Expedition to over 100 cities covering all provinces in Indonesia.

Acting Director General of Tourism Destination Development, Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Mr. Dadang Rizki Ratman in his speech said: "Food is the 15th sub-sector of the creative economy, developed as flagship products for tourists attraction as well as the nation's image and identity. As such the Ministry declared the 30 Indonesia’s Traditional Culinary Icons as an initial platform to develop Indonesian cuisines with tumpeng (rice cone) as the mover. In the near future the government will issue the Blueprint for Creative Industries, including food as the sub-sector."

"As a nonprofit institution that continues to raise public awareness in the field of agriculture, food and culinary, for youth in particular, we hope to continue to establish a synergy with the Government, the Business and Professionals, to explore the wealth of Indonesian culinary and its benefits for local communities," said Terzi Niode, the Secretary of Omar Niode Foundation.

More than 300 participants, representing the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, other ministries and institutions, related associations, students, culinary communities, as well as print and electronic media, enthusiastically attended the seminar, held at Balairung Soesilo Soedarman, Sapta Pesona Building in Jakarta.

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Images: Omar NIode Foundation/Monchichi, Arie Parikesit, Ministry of Tourism & Creative Economy, Erik Wolf.