OREANDA-NEWS  The Association of Cultural and Gastronomic Tourism sent a letter to the Head of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maxim Oreshkin with a proposal to add gastronomic tourism to the list of priorities in the developed Federal Target Program of Tourism development in Russia to support the interest of foreign tourists to the Russian regions.

"To date, the concept of the Federal target program "Development of domestic and inbound tourism in the Russian Federation (2019-2025)" published on the website of the Federal Agency for tourism (RosTurism) highlights five priority types of tourism: cultural, educational, active, health, cruise and environmental. We propose to add to this list the direction of "gastronomic tourism", - said in a letter from the Chairman of the Association Irina Klimkina.

As noted in the letter, taking into account the further development of transport infrastructure, the opening and modernization of airports, tourist traffic is becoming more accessible to the Russian regions, in this regard, the development of gastronomic tourism with the allocation of unique regional products can support and motivate the interest of tourists to rest in Russia.

"Given the global trends in the tourism industry, we believe that it is gastronomic tourism that can become the locomotive for the development of domestic and inbound tourism in Russia," the letter says.

As it is noted in the letter, in the direction of gastrotourism the pilot program "Taste of Astrakhan" which was supported by the regional authorities, local tour operators and territorial productions is already realized.

"To integrate with the global market of tourist services, the Association offered the post of gastronomic Ambassador of Russia to a number of world celebrities who appreciate Russian cuisine. During the research stage of compiling a list of astrobingo for consideration by UNESCO for inclusion to the list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity," the letter reads.

The Association also proposed to include the gastronomic tourism industry in the developed strategy of tourism development in Russia until 2035 and to approve the methodology of the definitions of "gastronomic tourism" and "gastronomic specialty (brand)" at the Federal level.

"We are confident that in the period of international tension, the potential of gastrotourism will open Russia to foreign guests from a new position of hospitality and service, non-traditional and non - stereotypical perception of the cultural and historical" mental code" of Russians, " Klimkina said in the letter.