The Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB) is re-launching the Gastronomy Train Project in order to expand the rapidly developing gastronomy tourism in Turkey as well as in the world. While it was learned that there were negotiations with TCDD, it was learned that the train was aimed to take off on routes such as Adana, Zonguldak and Kars in the first place. Trains will be in package tours 1-2 times a week. In the next phase of the project, the Gastronomy Train will be expanded to all regions with a railway.
Diğdem Kaçmaz, Vice Chairman of TÜRSAB Gastronomy Tourism Specialization Committee, explained the details of the Gastronomy Train study to a group of journalists. Reminding that the first Gastronomy Train departed from Adana in 2019, Kaçmaz said, “Although this project was launched in 2019, it could not progress very quickly afterwards. Covid-19 conditions prevented this. Now we have it on our agenda again. In addition, we will try to continue our efforts to purchase local products that will also contribute to the region by making long pauses. The project, which we plan to turn into a charter in the future, is progressing rapidly. We will have other routes later," he said.
Gastronomy tours will bring more income to the regions
Stating that they will further expand gastronomy tourism with the works to be done, Kaçmaz said: We also need guides who have knowledge about gastronomy. At the moment, we get support from our chef in the restaurant that we enter with our guide or from those who are experts on the dishes in that region. In this way, we will need gastronomy guides when embarking on a big project. In order for gastronomic tours to bring more income to the region, the days of stay should be increased. At the moment, we are also working on experience tourism.”
The first routes of the Gastoronimi train are Adana Kars and Zonguldak.
It was also learned that there are negotiations with the Republic of Turkey State Railways for a study that will allow the Gastronomy Train to travel on charter flights, that is, by renting a train. Train services will be organized as package tours 1-2 times a week. In the next phase of the project, the Gastronomy Train will be expanded to all regions with a railway.
Promotion opportunity from the farm to the producer
Stating that they will further expand gastronomy tourism with the works to be done, Kaçmaz said: We also need guides who have knowledge about gastronomy. At the moment, we get support from our chef in the restaurant that we enter with our guide or from those who are experts on the dishes in that region. In order for gastronomic tours to generate income, the days of stay should also be increased. At the moment, we are also working on 'Experience Tourism'. For example, we are trying to create a package tour for a few days in which we experience the olive harvest from the field to the producer in the region that we call the 'Olive Route', starting from Çanakkale and encompassing Balıkesir, Ayvalık, Gömeç and Akhisar. Over time, we will expand these efforts to all regions," he said.
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