On 1-2 August, 2019, at Yangtalad Local Administration Hall, Galasin province, Center for Asia-Pacific Tourism of Khon Kaen University Business School (KKBS) hosts an academic service for the community to promote innovation for gastronomy tourism Center for Asia-Pacific Tourism of Khon Kaen University Business School (KKBS) hosts an academic service for the community to promote innovation for gastronomy tourism and creative tourism in Galasin province. The villagers and tourism operators in Yangtalad District are trained on cost management and techniques for price indicating. It is aimed to promote the local food and cultural rice products to the tourists. The opening ceremony was chaired by Mr. Kraison Gongchalad, a Galasin governor. Mr. Sommai Thapsri, a president of Yangtalad Local Administration office, greeted the guests. The trainers were Asst. Prof. Dr. Thirachaya Chaikasem, a director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Tourism, Dr. Chichaya Lehlaksa, and Ajan Natagan Tunming.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Thirachaya Chaikasem said Kalasin is famous for many cultural and historical resources that can be supportive for gastronomy tourism. It is a location for the biggest dinosaur fossil excavation site in Southeast Asia. Handicraft is also famous in this province. Based on these supportive factors, Center for Asia-Pacific Tourism deems Yangtalad as a potential place for gastronomy tourism development and the center wishes to promote the city as prototype of food tourism.
“In 2019, Tourism Authority of Thailand has a policy to attract international tourists to Thailand by using food as a key tourism product. Gastronomy tourism will be used to create better economy for local community while it is a tool to help promote culture and environment of the community. Food can be used as a narration of the local culture and ways of living. Paradoxically, tourists are said to really have arrived at the local tourism site only after having tasted the local food. The tourists must be highly impressed if they are engaged in making food and eating the food they make. Gastronomy tourism not only create impression among the tourists, but also helps preserve the local culinary intellect and generate incomes. Food is a national symbol and it can help create tourism competition capacity. Said Dr. Thirachaya Chaikasem
Particularly for this training, Center for Asia-Pacific Tourism obtain information about the uniqueness of Yangtalad local food which will be used for the development of gastronomy tourism in the area. The participants were acknowledged about the importance of promoting local food as a product for gastronomy tourism and how to develop this type of tourism in their hometown which should help attract tourists to the city.
News: Warunyoo Donnua
Photos: Center for Asia-Pacific Tourism
[ Thai ]
