Special Interview

Japanese Ambassador to Türkiye KATSUMATA Takahiko: “Turkish Cuisine is One of the Three Great Cuisine of the World”

HORECA TREND continues its “World Tour” series with the Far Eastern country of Japan. Japan’s Ambassador to Ankara KATSUMATA Takahiko made special statements to HORECA TREND Editor-in-Chief Elif Akın Yüksel.

It was published

6 months ago

September 9, 2024

Author:

Elif Akin Yuksel

What are the cultural similarities and differences between Japanese and Turkish cuisines? Can you share some of your gastronomy and tourism experiences in Turkey?

The similarities between the food cultures of Japan and Turkey are the richness of ingredients and the variety of food. I think both countries have a warm culture of hospitality and this is reflected in their food culture. I have had many experiences in Turkey where when I was invited to dinner, I was served more elaborate meals than I could possibly eat, and hot tea and desserts were served one after another. In Japan, although less common in the cities, you can find a similar culture of hospitality in the countryside.

On the other hand, if I talk about the differences between Japanese and Turkish cuisine, it can be said that Turkey is conservative in terms of food, while Japan, on the contrary, is more innovative, easily accepts foreign cuisines and even develops them in its own way. Today, what can be called Japan's national dishes curry ve Windows actually came from abroad.

What are your favorite and most interesting dishes in Turkey?

I love everything from green beans to kebabs. About 40 years ago, when I was an intern learning Turkish in Istanbul, I was invited to various families’ homes and tasted the delicious home-cooked meals they served. At the time, I noticed that Turkish dishes had unique names like “Hünkâr Beğendi” and “İmam Bayıldı” and thought these witty names were interesting. Another dish that was more surprising than interesting was the lamb head cooked whole. It tasted very good, but it was not easy to eat the meat while his eyes were looking at me.

Which region in Turkey do Japanese tourists like and what are they interested in in Turkey?

Japanese tourists love to visit historical sites, especially world cultural heritage sites, and eat local food when traveling abroad. They also care about whether there are friendly relations between the country they will travel to and Japan. From this perspective, we can say that Turkey is a country that Japanese people show great interest in. In addition to historical structures such as the Sultanahmet and Hagia Sophia Mosques in Istanbul, the magnificent natural landscapes of Cappadocia and Pamukkale are also well known in Japan. In recent years, great importance has been given to archaeological research in Turkey, and some of these researches are carried out in cooperation with the Japanese. On the other hand, the Japanese government recently lowered the declared risk levels for some regions of Gaziantep and Şanlıurfa in Southeastern Turkey from level two to level one. I hope that package tours departing from Japan will be organized in this way, where Göbeklitepe and Gaziantep, famous for its delicious food, can be visited.

How do you evaluate the HORECA (Hotel – Restaurant – Cafe) industry in Turkey? As a diplomat who has served in many countries, in what ways does Turkey differ from other countries?

The fact that the number of foreign tourists visiting Turkey reached a record 2023 million in 56,7 brings with it expectations that the accommodation and restaurant sector will grow even more in the coming years. In addition, according to the '2024 Global Tastemakers' published in an American magazine ('Food & Wine'), Istanbul was chosen as the 2024nd best food and beverage city in 2 (Tokyo was chosen first in this ranking). This is undoubtedly an indication of how popular Turkish food is. As I have just mentioned, the warm 'hospitality' of the Turks is among the reasons why Turkey is preferred as a travel destination. On the other hand, I would like to express that I was surprised by the fact that the staff at the restaurants cleared the food off the table so quickly compared to restaurants in other countries.

What do you think about the popularity of Turkish food in Japan? Do you have any advice for Turkish investors? What kind of incentives does your country offer for Turkish investors?

When I started learning Turkish, there was only one Turkish restaurant in Tokyo. Now they have spread all over the country and their numbers have increased considerably. Döner kebab has a solid place as a regular fast food. There is also a luxurious restaurant serving Ottoman imperial palace cuisine. With the increase in Turkish Airlines flights, there has also been a significant increase in the number of tourists compared to the past. Thus, more Japanese have begun to admire the flavors of Turkish cuisine.

I think the secret of the success of Turkish restaurants in Japan is 'increasing awareness'. Unfortunately, the vast majority of Japanese people only know about Turkish cuisine, which is considered one of the three great cuisines of the world. However, recently, baklava has become quite popular in Tokyo's Ginza district, where luxury stores are lined up, and is even sold at much higher prices than in Turkey. The contribution of promotional activities that fully utilize social media can be shown behind this popularity.

Could you tell us about the economic relations between Japan and Turkey? What is the importance of the food and beverage and tourism sectors in the economy?

The bilateral trade volume between Japan and Turkey, which was approximately 2023 billion dollars in 6,1, was recorded as the highest level since 2013. Japan's investments in Turkey also continue to be strong. Japanese investments, which reached one hundred million thousand dollars last year, rank first among investments made by Asian countries in Turkey. When it comes to tourism, a pandemic-related stagnation is noticeable in recent years. However, the number of Japanese visitors to Turkey last year increased to 2018, a figure close to the 80.000 levels before the pandemic. On the other hand, the number of Turkish citizens visiting Japan in the same year exceeded 30.000. This figure is approximately 2019 times higher when compared to 1,5 data. All these data show us that there is an active economic relationship between Japan and Turkey.

Both Turkey and Japan are world-class tourism countries. In addition, food and beverage and tourism are highly interconnected sectors, and from this perspective, gastronomy is an important element in attracting tourists. Last March, the second meeting of the 'Turkey-Japan Tourism Cooperation Dialogue' was jointly organized by the Japan Tourism Agency and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey, and an agreement was reached to expand mutual contacts in 100, when the 2024th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries is celebrated. In addition, the Japanese airline All Nippon Airways (ANA) announced that it will start flights to Istanbul by the end of March next year.

The 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Türkiye is being celebrated. Finally, what would you like to say about this issue?

The 100th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Turkey and Japan, 2024, is an important milestone for both countries to reflect on the friendship they have developed with each other and to further strengthen their relations for the future. Of course, the friendship between the two countries has a long history of over 100 years, but diplomatic relations between the two countries were first established in 1924 when the Treaty of Lausanne came into force in Japan. Over the past 100 years, the two countries have faced many challenges but have always extended a helping hand to each other. We hope to continue to strengthen bilateral relations in various fields and encourage greater cooperation between our countries.

Various events are being held in both Turkey and Japan to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of these diplomatic relations. In April, a Turkish-Japanese culinary event was organized in cooperation with the President of the Turkish Chefs Federation and the chef working at the official residence of the Japanese Embassy. The menu, expressing the friendship between Japan and Turkey, was served on shared plates from starters to desserts. Other events are planned in the future. I hope that those who are interested in Japanese culture, as well as those who have not had the opportunity to get to know Japanese culture before, will come into contact with Japanese art, cuisine, language and similar Japanese cultural elements through such events and feel closer to Japan. I definitely want everyone who has the opportunity to visit Japan.

Source: HORECA Trend

Related Tags:Gastronomy Japonya Embassy of Japan in Ankara KATSUMATA Takahiko Highlights Tourism

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Special Interview

“El Salvador Aims to Benefit from its Tourism Potential”

HORECA TREND continues its “World Tour” series with the Latin American country El Salvador, after Azerbaijan and Georgia. El Salvador's Ambassador to Ankara Hector Enrique Jaime Calderon made special statements to HORECA TREND Editor-in-Chief Elif Akın Yüksel.

It was published

11 months ago

May 9 2024

Author:

Elif Akin Yuksel

Can you talk about some of El Salvador's tourist attractions and the experiences these locations offer foreign visitors?

El Salvador aims to benefit from its potential in tourism; The features that provide this potential include the quality of the waves for surfing, the unique tropical climate, the proximity of tourist spots, talented people, qualified workforce, continuous training for the service sector, extraordinary gastronomic diversity and invaluable natural and cultural resources that are extremely important for tourism.

The following locations stand out as part of the advantages the country offers in terms of tourism:

Surf City: Its goal is to create an economic development pillar in the coastal region of the country. As a branded destination, Surf City El Salvador aims to position the country in this direction by using waves as a distinguishing value from other destinations in the region. Additionally, Surf City will be a gateway to other destinations across the country such as volcanoes, lakes, colonial towns and cities, as well as culture and ecotourism. It is estimated that it will serve as a channel in tourist development areas. Currently, the coastline that forms Surf City starts from La Libertad, and expansion work continues to the beaches in the east of El Salvador.

City Tour: It takes 6 hours and includes visits to the National Palace, San Salvador National Theatre, Monsignor Romero Center, Martyrs Museum, Metropolitan Cathedral, and the Holy House where the remains of American St. Romero are located. It ends with a visit to the traveling exhibition of the Museum of Words and Images.

Archaeological Route: It is an opportunity to get to know the Mayans, one of the most advanced civilizations of humanity, better. Joya de Cerén, El Salvador, located on the Regional Route of the Maya World It has archaeological treasures declared as World Heritage by UNESCO, where you can understand how Mayan inhabitants lived their daily lives.

Artisanal Fishing Route: Offers the public the opportunity to experience artisanal fishing, boat excursions, diving, snorkeling, and observing birds and marine fauna. The route may include a cruise passing through Bocana de la BahíaJiquilisco, visiting Pajarito Island, Estero de San Sebastián, Zacatillo Island, Puerto Corsaín and Los Acantilados, all located in the eastern part of El Salvador.

It is a great option for people who enjoy beaches and activities that will enable them to connect with the locals of the places they visit, as well as traditional activities of the destination they visit, and who are curious about places that few people know about.

Can you give an overview of El Salvador's tourism industry? What developments have been made in your country's tourism sector in recent years?

The Government of El Salvador, through the Ministry of Tourism (MITUR) and the Salvadoran Tourism Authority (CORSATUR), has created lines of business aimed at positioning El Salvador as a sustainable, attractive and competitive tourist destination; This is the country's vision to promote sustainable tourism and economic development.

Similarly, Surf City is a government-supported project that has become El Salvador's tourism brand to the world today, creating a wave of opportunities for tourism.

In this context, the work focuses on re-establishing relations with neglected tourism sectors, modernizing the infrastructures of destinations, innovating in the positioning and promotion of the country, as well as creating conditions that will enable more investment and more job opportunities in El Salvador.

In addition, the government of El Salvador is investing significantly in infrastructure projects with touristic value, such as new roads and public recreation areas, in order to create the most suitable conditions for the realization of new investments such as restaurants, hotels, resorts, thematic parks, and congress centers.

Are there sustainable tourism projects in El Salvador? Can you briefly talk about the work done to protect natural and cultural resources to increase the welfare of local people?

Ecotourism is becoming increasingly popular in El Salvador due to the diversity of natural beauty and ecosystems the country offers. Although El Salvador is a relatively small destination compared to its neighbors in Central America, It has a surprising variety of options for nature lovers and sustainable travel.

Some of El Salvador's leading ecotourism destinations and activities include:

El Imposible National Park: This national park is famous for its biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes ranging from mountains to cloud forests. It offers a wide range of activities, including hiking, bird watching and guided tours.

Flower Route: This route, full of natural beauties, passes through picturesque villages on the slopes of volcanoes in the Apaneca-Lamatepec mountain range. Travelers can enjoy hiking trails, coffee farm visits, exploring waterfalls and dense forests.

Montecristo National Park: Located on the border of Guatemala and Honduras, this national park is part of the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor and is home to a rich variety of plants and animals, including endangered species such as the quetzal bird.

Pristine beaches: El Salvador has 307 kilometers of coastline washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean and is full of idyllic beaches ideal for surfing, diving, snorkeling and water activities. The most popular beaches include El Tunco, El Zonte and El Cuco.

Volcanoes: El Salvador is known as the “Land of Volcanoes” and many of its volcanoes offer opportunities for ecotourism, such as the San Salvador and Santa Ana Volcanoes, especially the latter with an impressive crater and panoramic views.

Ecotourism in El Salvador is developing gradually, with an increasing focus on environmental protection and sustainable development. Local people also take part in the promotion and management of many of the natural areas I mentioned, contributing to the country's income generation and raising awareness about the importance of protecting the natural environment.

Can you tell us about the economic and commercial relations between Türkiye and El Salvador? What are your thoughts on the current trade and tourism relations between the two countries?

Main export products include: fabric scraps, twine, yarns and ropes, textiles, shellac, resin, machines for preparing roasted or decaffeinated coffee, shoes with rubber and cotton soles; The main import products are: passenger cars and other vehicles, toilet paper, make-up remover wipes, napkins and the like, medicines, special suits, sets and jackets, chocolate and other preparations.

It should also be noted that the El Salvador products with the highest potential for trade in Turkey are: unroasted and decaffeinated coffee, cotton knitted and other types of t-shirts, steel and iron scraps, textured polyester yarn, fresh/dried fruits, frozen shellfish, natural latex, fresh or dried cashews, processed or canned fruits, cocoa beans.

In this context, El Salvador aims to further promote the products it exports to Turkey and El Salvador tourism by creating economic promotion environments such as forums, fairs and webinars.

The El Salvador Embassy in Turkey, with the support of commercial relations offices, is working determinedly on many projects to encourage investments in El Salvador, promote exportable products and position El Salvador as a tourism center.

Are there opportunities for Turkish investors in the El Salvador tourism sector and what incentives are offered?

El Salvador, through the Ministry of Tourism and the Salvador Tourism Authority and in collaboration with the Salvador Tourism Institute, continues to work on the technical expertise of its human resources to prepare them for a new concept of service delivery based on quality and expertise.

In 2023, by decree, the San Salvador Historic City Center Planning Authority (APLAN by its Spanish acronym) was established under the Ministry of Tourism; The purpose of this formation is to protect, preserve and organize a limited area of the San Salvador Historical City Center and to promote touristic activity and investments by declaring it a culture, tourism and development zone.

Similarly, within the scope of APLAN administration, incentives are provided for investment in commercial and touristic activities such as food, accommodation, recreation, information and transportation, parking lot construction, real estate and housing construction.

This should be noted, as well as activities aimed at the rehabilitation, preservation and restoration of buildings in the area delimited as the San Salvador Historic City Center.

Among the incentives provided, there is Income Tax exemption (ten years) for construction, alteration, improvement, expansion, restoration and conservation investments worth $ 1.000,00 per square meter on real estate of at least twenty-five square meters.

It is possible to benefit from the same exemption for real estate properties smaller than those mentioned above, provided that the minimum investment amount is $ 25.000,00. It is also necessary to count expenses that can be deducted from Income Tax and exemption from municipal taxes.

Can you share your impressions about tourism and gastronomy in Turkey?

In my opinion, gastronomy is part of a country's cultural heritage and a mirror of traditions, daily life and national identity. Of course, all of these are elements closely related to tourism activities and destinations offered to visitors from other countries.

Turkey has a very impressive gastronomy culture and I feel privileged to be able to experience the richness of Turkish cuisine on site every time I have the opportunity to taste new flavors and recipes. For example, I didn't eat a lot of lamb. After spending time in Turkey, I started to get used to it and now I like it very much. On the other hand, I also love the most traditional foods and drinks, such as Turkish tea, appetizers, soups and Turkish breakfast.

I had the opportunity to explore different cities and regions of this beautiful country; Every place I visit offers a unique gastronomic experience, which plays an important role in Turkey's tourism and in making the country one of the most visited countries in the world.

Source: HORECA Trend