THE IMPLEMENTATION OF GASTRODIPLOMACY CONDUCTED BY THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA THROUGH TOURISM PROMOTION IN GERMANY (2014-2018)

Abstract

Gastrodiplomacy, or the use of food to increase the awareness and understanding of foreign public towards the country's culinary culture, is one of many tools that a government can use in its broader strategy of cultural diplomacy. This strategy has implemented by Indonesia through the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia as an actor and using the media of tourism promotion that is being intensively carried out by Indonesia to Germany. The purpose of this research is to analyze the efforts of the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia in implementing Indonesia’s gastrodiplomacy through tourism promotion in Germany and find out whether or not is it in line with the characteristic of gastrodiplomacy itself. In addition, this research also tries to analyze how the concept of gastrodiplomacy works in international relations studies. In order to make the analysis more comprehensive, thus this research also using several related concepts, such as soft power, public diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and gastrodiplomacy. The method used in conducting this research is a qualitative research method that aims to describe or explain the existing problems. Data collection techniques using the primary source in the form of the official report from the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia and secondary sources obtained from journals, books, and websites. This study ultimately shows the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia’s effort in promoting its traditional food and drinks indirectly following the concept of gastrodiplomacy. However, Indonesia's gastrodiplomacy is still lacking in terms of policy and programs that might be a concern to be followed up.