IFTM Daily - Day 1

16 SPECIAL FEATURE: GASTRONOMY & WINE TOURISM
JAPAN’S
CULINARY
TREASURES
Promoting one of the world’s
most recognised cuisines
The U.S. ranks sixth in the world with 5.8%
of the world’s vineyard acreage. California is
America’s most famous wine region, And with
4285 wineries, it’s the largest. But it’s not the
only region. The truth is there are at least 75
other officially designated wine-growing areas
and more than 6,200 other wineries in USA—
areas that wine-loving tourists should drink up.
Colorado… Vineyards on the Rockies’ Western
Slope are some of the best places outside of
California for a winery tour. Ones around towns
like Palisade and Grand Junction are familyowned,
lacking the pretensions of some other
wine areas.
Washington State has its Columbia Valley.
With more than 80 wineries, it’s a great choice
for tourists who want to explore vineyards
down small country roads. An even more rural
grape-growing area can be found in the Walla
Walla Valley, credited with some of the West
Coast's best red wines.
While New York might bring thoughts of
skyscraper-full Manhattan, the NY state is
almost the size of France. It’s a green state
and its Finger Lakes region counts more than
11,000 acres (44.5 sq, km) of vineyards.
Texas is not just cattle, oil and gas, and Dallasstyle
ranches. The historic and charming town
of Fredricksburg can be the starting point for
Jefferson Vineyards
American
Vino Veritas
Lesser known wine regions of the USA
a tour along U.S. Highway 290 with a dozen
wineries. It’s also home to horseback-riding
tours, cave tours and river rafting.
Also in Virginia, you can find the “Birthplace
of American Wine.” The Monticello Wine Trail,
inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s vision of
winemaking, offers 30 wineries. Its Rivanna
River was once called the “Rhine of America”
for its wine production.
» HALL 7.2 / STAND D103, C113, D113
Despite the popularity of Japanese food around the world,
many potential travelers to Japan do not fully appreciate
the unique scope of the national culinary scene. While
sushi is a central part of Japanese heritage, myriad
flavors from all around the world have contributed to
Japan’s robust foodie culture that is attracting culinary
pioneers from far and wide. Tokyo, for example, has
more stars in the prestigious Michelin Guidebook than
any other city in the world. From noodles to sashimi to
gourmet French cuisine, Japan has the food to satisfy
the most discerning of palettes, as well as the strictest
of budgets.
In an effort to better exploit the potential of culinary
travel in the land of the rising sun, the Japan National
Tourist Organisation has initiated a campaign to
promote Japanese gastronomy tourism. This includes
highlighting Japan’s best restaurants or street foods on
the JNTO website and other media. While every town and
village has its own distinctive cuisine, an especial focus
for culinary travelers will be Tokyo, which is arguably the
foodie capital of the world.
“Tokyo offers diverse activities through which to explore
our food culture,” says Chieto Misumi, Director of the
Tourism Promotion Department at the Tokyo Convention
& Visitors Bureau. “Travellers can visit the famous Fish
Market in Tsukiji and taste original Tokyo Edo-Mai
sushis. They are also a few cooking schools providing
courses in English to visitors to learn how to create sushi
or Japanese desserts.”
» HALL 7.2 / STAND D012
© Hoshinoya Karuizawa - Japan National Tourism Organization
IFTM Daily • Tuesday 20 th September 2016
www.iftmdaily.com