Melbourne restaurants are helping Indonesia become the “gastronomic destination of the world”

The Republic of Indonesia wants to be known as the “gastronomic destination of the world” and needs Melbourne’s help to do so.

In conversation with the Australia-Indonesia Centre, Sandiaga Uno, Minister of Tourism & Creative Economy for the Republic of Indonesia, detailed his plans for a new culinary tourism initiative.

“We believe Indonesia could be the gastronomic destination of the world,” he said.

The minister pointed to Melbourne as a city that embraced the delicacies the country has to offer.

“This city, Melbourne, is actually the city with the most Indonesian restaurants overseas,” he continued. “It’s not the biggest city in the world, but it is one with the most Indonesian restaurants, so we want to partner up with [them].”

Part of Uno’s recent trip to Australia was dedicated to building relationships across a range of local sectors including hospitality in order to learn “the best of the best from the latest and greatest”.

Uno said Indonesia will highlight its deliciously spicy dishes in order to draw in international tourists.

“We have a brand new signature program called Indonesia Spice Up the World,” he said.

“We used to be known as this country of spices; spice food was established hundreds of years ago. We want to basically now move into this [campaign] using culinary as our gastro diplomacy and also promoting the country.

“Not only the tourism destinations but also the creative economy products and the people and the country in general.”

You can watch our full conversation with Minister Uno above.

Image at top: Wonderful Indonesia, via YouTube