Countries Prominent in Gastrodiplomacy Practies Worldwide

In the context of globalization, countries have increasingly sought to enhance their international visibility and influence not only remove military and economic capabilities, but also by leveraging cultural assets. Within this framework, gastronomy has emerged as a strategic instrument for the representation of national identity and the construction of soft power. Gastrodiplomacy refers to the strategic use of a nation’s culinary heritage as a tool of intercultural engagement and public diplomacy. This study adopts a document analysis approach and is designed as a comprehensive review. A wide range of sources, including academic literature, official reports, UNESCO documents, and policy papers, were systematically examined. The analysis focuses on ten countries that have gained prominence for their gastrodiplomacy initiatives: Thailand, South Korea, Peru, Japan, Türkiye, Mexico, China, Greece, the United States, and India. The primary objective of this study is to comparatively analyze these countries’ gastrodiplomacy practices and to identify their shared strategic patterns. The findings demonstrate that gastronomy is systematically employed as a soft power resource in nation branding, the safeguarding of cultural heritage, the promotion of tourism, and the management of international perception.