Preserving Local Food Heritage Through Edugastrotourism: The Case of Hanjeli Tourism Village, Indonesia

This study investigates how edugastrotourism contributes to the preservation of local food heritage and sustainable rural development. Using Hanjeli Tourism Village in Sukabumi, Indonesia, as a case study, a qualitative methodology was employed comprising participant observation, semi-structured interviews with 30 local stakeholders, and document analysis. Thematic analysis was used to interpret data and recurring themes related to gastronomy, sustainability, and community participation. The findings reveal that edugastrotourism—through experiental learning activities such as farming, food processing, and cultural storytelling—strengthens cultural appreciation, supports agrobiodiversity, and empowers local communities. Specifically, the revitalization of hanjeli or Job’s Tears (Coix lacryma-jobi), an underutilized indigenous grain, becomes a medium for experiential learning and community-based tourism. This study introduces hanjeli-based edugastrotourism as a culturally embedded and replicable model for regenerative tourism, emphasizing the transformative role of local food in education, heritage preservation, and economic resilience.