The plenary session of the 6th Sustainable Development Forum has taken place under the title ‘Tourism and International Diplomacy’. The satellite event of the ‘Let’s Travel!’ International Tourism Forum brought together government representatives, entrepreneurs, industry experts, and associations to discuss the prospects for developing the tourism and hospitality sector in the Russian Far East.

One of the topics of discussion was the concept of Pacific cuisine as an instrument of gastrodiplomacy. Minister of Tourism of Kamchatka Territory Vladimir Rusanov stressed the region’s special role in this process:

“Approximately 40% of Russia’s Pacific Ocean fish are caught in Kamchatka. As we see it, Pacific cuisine can be used as a tool of gastrodiplomacy that would allow us to build diplomatic relations with countries and regions of the Pacific Rim. The book Pacific Cuisine: The Beginning lays out the fundamental elements that will make building these diplomatic relations possible.”

The concept of Pacific cuisines unites the culinary traditions of coastal regions – the Russian Far East, North and South Korea, Japan, China, North and South America, Australia, and Oceania. They all share the common ingredients of fish, seafood, and wild plants. The idea is illustrated in the book Pacific Cuisine: The Beginning, which was showcased at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok last September. The publication includes more than 50 recipes, as well as research on the region’s distinctive ingredients, their economic value, and cultural diversity.

Gastrodiplomacy was on display at the level of international cooperation in the talks between Kamchatka Territory and Ghana on the prospects of developing joint projects. Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority Marilyn Maame Efua Houadjeto noted the similarities between the two territories and the potential for developing projects together:

“Kamchatka and Ghana have much in common. Including resources that can be sold and showcased. Like Kamchatka, Ghana enjoys a wonderful location, on the ocean. And it is considered a gateway to Africa for tourism.”

According to the expert, gastronomy, ethnic culture, and tourism could serve as a kind of common ground. Mrs. Marilyn Maame Efua Houadjeto also placed an emphasis on the role of tourism in developing public diplomacy:

“Russia and Ghana have a long history of relations, spanning 65 years. These relations have mostly been in education, specialist training, and diplomacy. We are finally reaching the level of general cultural diplomacy, creating our own diplomacy. This is what tourism should be doing now, because it is through tourism that we can travel independently, experience the world, and really get to know the region or country we are visiting.

Tourism’s strength lies in the fact that public diplomacy is a soft power through which we can influence society and promote territorial development. When tourism booms, other sectors of the economy start to develop too.”

The 6th Sustainable Development Forum in Kamchatka Territory confirmed that tourism and hospitality can become drivers of spatial development, improve the quality of the urban environment, and create a new investment climate. New initiatives in gastrodiplomacy open up new opportunities for strengthening international ties and unlocking the potential of regions.