Thai farmers get to make more productive use of their land and try out new concepts, such as herbal and organic products and wineries.
Minister of Tourism and Sports Weerasak Kowsurat said that both agriculture and tourism are major job creators and contribute significantly to economic livelihood and income distribution all over Thailand, especially in the rural areas.
In his opening address at the 4th UNWTO Forum on Gastronomy Tourism in Bangkok on 30 May 2018, Mr. Weerasak stressed how gastronomy tourism is helping many small and grassroots communities in Thailand boost sales of their fruits, rice, and general crops and create a strong international brand for Thai food and ingredients.
He said that farmers get to make more productive use of their land and try out new concepts, such as herbal and organic products and wineries. The multiplier effect nationwide is of massive value and benefit.
Mr. Weerasak said, “Gastronomy has been linked to tourism and further influenced as well as enhanced by technological advances. However, both gastronomy and tourism are undeniably related to local cultures and communities.
“Both the Eastern and Western worlds have cuisine that is rooted in local wisdom. Each is unique in its own way. If we can fuse their combined strengths, it will allow us to have a better understanding of their physiological benefits as well as the intellectual value of our respective cultures.”
He said, “Thai cuisine helps us to drive tourism and boost spending. In 2017, 20 percent of our tourism revenue was on food. We are hoping to increase that in the years ahead.”
Mr. Weerasak also highlighted the gastronomic linkages among the member states of the ASEAN Community.
“The most important crop for us (in ASEAN) is rice, as it is our staple food. In other words, rice is not just a source of food, but also a source of our culture and way of life. ASEAN countries are top exporters of rice. It may interest you to know that the ASEAN emblem also has stalks of rice paddy bound together on the ASEAN flag.”
A record 475 delegates from 52 countries have turned up for the 4th UNWTO Forum on Gastronomy Tourism. The conference, which will run until 1 June, is being attended by dozens of Thai restaurateurs, chefs, food, and beverage executives and hoteliers who are getting a chance to update themselves on new techniques and technologies in preparing, marketing and managing the strong linkage between tourism and gastronomy.
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