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INDONESIA’S Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, invites creative economy players in the Indonesian culinary sub-sector living in New Zealand (NZ) to collaborate in advancing the tourism sector and Indonesia’s (RI) creative economy, one of which is by promoting Indonesian specialties.
In a virtual meeting with the Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand (NZ) and NZ culinary players, Thursday (3/6), Sandiaga explained that Indonesian cuisine is the main attraction for foreign tourists to visit Indonesia. Therefore, I invite culinary players in New Zealand to collaborate to create a program that can introduce tourism and Indonesian cuisine to New Zealand.
“I hope we all collaborate, in an achievable collaboration. So, don’t let us meet like this later but we don’t follow up, there is no follow-up,” said Minister Sandiaga.
Sandiaga suggested that after the meeting an event could be arranged, such as a food festival in New Zealand when the pandemic ended as a form of promotion to introduce Indonesian tourism and culinary there. In addition, Sandiaga also proposes to create a hybrid event in the near future so that it can arouse the enthusiasm of Indonesian culinary business players in New Zealand.
“However, in the near term while waiting for 2022, which may be a substantial event, we can conceptualize events such as a hybrid, virtual food festival. Ambassador Tantowi Yahya and I are here to taste the food in front of us, send it there. We invite 3000 people, universities, either there or in Indonesia. So the pentahelix can be, and it can inspire enthusiasm,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ambassador to New Zealand, Tantowi Yahya, explained that Indonesian cuisine in Zealand is quite well developed, namely that initially in 2017 there were only about 3 Indonesian restaurants in New Zealand, now in 2021 there are 14 restaurants.
“When I first served in April 2017, there were only 2 or 3 Indonesian restaurants, now they have grown to 14 restaurants. Some are permanent fine dining restaurants, some are cafeterias, food trucks, some are stalls. Most of the results are good, aren’t they? only our community but also local people, foreigners basically like Indonesian cuisine,” Ambassador Tantowi Yahya noted.
Furthermore, Tantowi wants Indonesian culinary players in New Zealand to collaborate with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy because all of them have the same mission, namely to introduce Indonesian culinary and tourism.
“There must be collaboration, there must be a synergy between the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and them because their locations are good, some are in the middle of the city, in elite areas, there are food trucks that are visited by hundreds to thousands of people every week,” he pointed out.
Likewise, the owner of the Garuda Restaurant in New Zealand, Burhan, said that his culinary business, which serves fried rice and fried noodles with Indonesian flavors, is very popular with New Zealanders. Therefore, he is very enthusiastic about collaborating with the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to introduce Indonesian culinary and tourism.
“Indeed, I’ve been thinking about collaborating for a long time because we culinary actors are at the forefront who directly meet the people in New Zealand, this can be a medium to further develop Indonesian culinary tourism. So my mobile food truck currently has three and one restaurant, this is can be a medium to introduce Indonesia for free,” said Burhan.
Burhan hopes that the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy can also help him to develop Indonesian tourism promotion materials in the form of flyers that provide complete information about Indonesian tourist destinations.
“Because so many people ask us when it comes to restaurants or food trucks where to go. It’s just that it’s very difficult for me to direct because there are no ingredients, as in this area, what tours are good, what rides, and what culinary delights to try. If there is promotional material it will be easier, we just give it and let them study it,” he concluded. [traveltext.id]
