Strengthening culinary heritage to support economic growth
The director of the Tourism Institute of the Municipalities Cooperation Organization of Khorasan Razavi Province stated that “One of the key pathways to prolong tourist stays is to enter attractive and high-potential sectors such as culinary tourism.”
Majid Ejtemaei, in an interview with ISNA, explained, “Developing the tourism industry in Khorasan Razavi Province, particularly by strengthening its infrastructure, plays a crucial role in economic growth and improving the quality of life for citizens.”
He added, “One of the main goals of the institute is to increase the length of stay for travelers in the province, as this directly contributes to economic growth and provides greater benefits for citizens from tourism.”
He continued, “One of the effective ways to achieve this goal is to venture into attractive and high-potential sectors like culinary tourism.”
Ejtemaei noted that “Khorasan Razavi Province, especially the city of Mashhad, owing to its religious and historical significance, boasts a rich and authentic culinary culture. This valuable heritage, through offering cultural and delicious experiences, can serve as a significant catalyst for increasing tourist stays and boosting the province’s economic prosperity.”
He expressed, “We believe that by offering food tours, cooking workshops, introducing traditional and modern restaurants, and organizing related events, we can create an engaging and memorable experience for tourists.”
He emphasized, “This approach not only increases local income but also helps introduce and revitalize the region’s authentic culinary traditions. Currently, plans are underway to establish a culinary tourism route in Mashhad and to showcase indigenous regional cuisines.”
Ejtemaei, referring to the signing of an agreement with the Food Industry Research Institute, added, “This agreement aims to foster scientific and operational cooperation for investment in culinary tourism. Our main goal is to develop this capacity for a promising future.”
He noted that “This collaboration seeks to attract investors for food tourism projects, provide consultation and planning for establishing a specialized culinary museum, improve the quality of services in this sector, and create projects rooted in cultural authenticity with economic benefits.”
He concluded, “The Food Industry Research Institute is an academic organization with a scholarly perspective on this subject and will participate actively in this memorandum.”