The Early Stage of Indonesia’s Gastrodiplomacy: In the Middle of Nowhere?

Abstract

As one of the motor of public diplomacy and cultural diplomacy, gastrodiplomacy has been the option taken by several countries to work on their soft power. The idea of strengthening the image and identity of a country through its food and culinary has been proliferating. Indonesia, with its richness and various kinds of traditional food, is starting to use gastroplomacy to elevate its soft-power. This paper highlights the early stage of the development of Indonesia's gastrodiplomacy. The paper used the descriptive qualitative method to examine what has been done to boost Indonesia’s gastrodiplomacy and who has been in charge of its development in Indonesia. This paper suggests that gastrodiplomacy may only be exercised on the right track when Indonesia finally decides to make a proper roadmap on gastrodiplomacy and placing the firm supporting policy to introduce Indonesian culinary broadly.