Culinary Festivities to Be Featured at 2017 Bali Arts Festival
Jakarta. The 2017 Bali Arts Festival, which runs from June 10 until July 8, will feature culinary festivities to attract tourists across the archipelago and beyond.
Bali Tourism Agency head A. A. Yuniartha Putra said in a statement on Thursday (01/06) that culinary "parties" will be held in all of Bali's districts.
"Nine districts and cities in Bali will hold culinary parties throughout the festival. Traditional dishes will also be served in the Bali Art Center every day during the event," Yuniartha said.
These districts and cities include Tabanan, Badung, Gianyar, Klungkung, Bangli, Karangasem, Buleleng and Denpasar. Chefs from each locale will present their best dishes during the festival.
He added that each district will add distinctive flavors to their dishes.
"Denpasar will present the city's unique take on 'Ayam Betutu,' which differs pretty signficantly from Gianyar's version. For instance, the spices used differ, as well as the seasoning and overall taste of the dish. I think tourists will be excited," Yuniartha said.
Traditional dishes, such as those served on skewers, chicken and pork rice platters and roasted pork are expected to loom large at the culinary parties.
"All foreign and domestic tourists will find something they enjoy," he said.
The Tourism Ministry’s deputy for marketing development, Esthy Reko Astuti, said the presentation of various traditional dishes is a great method to attract more tourists to the archipelago.
"Culinary dishes are a sort of culture of diplomacy," Esthy said.
The ministry's head of cultural promotion, Wawan Gunawan, agreed that traditional dishes can help attract more visitors to remote or less-popular regions in the country.
"The more popular traditional dishes are, the more likely people will be to visit the region those dishes originate from. We can introduce all of Indonesia through this culinary experience," Wawan said.
Tourism Minister Arief Yahya also praised the country's diverse culinary traditions.
"Indonesian food is some of the best in the world. It is very colorful and has a unique taste," Arief said.
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