Indonesia has potential to become global gastronomy hub, says Tourism Minister

Indonesia possesses the potential to emerge as a global center for gastronomy, leveraging its rich culinary diversity and cultural heritage, stated Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana. Speaking at the opening of Food and Hospitality Indonesia (FHI) 2026 in Jakarta, the minister highlighted the nation's authentic dishes, deep cultural legacy, and welcoming people as key assets.

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They travel to gain authentic experiences, and gastronomy has become one of the strongest travel motivators in the world.

These elements, she explained, allow Indonesia to offer genuine cultural and gastronomic experiences to tourists. "They travel to gain authentic experiences, and gastronomy has become one of the strongest travel motivators in the world," the minister noted. To bolster this potential, the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Indonesia Gastronomy Network, launched the 'Wonderful Indonesia Gourmet' (WIG) program. This initiative focuses on improving tourist experiences while simultaneously providing support to local communities.

The minister emphasized that developing gastronomic tourism must be accompanied by enhanced service quality in hotels, restaurants, and cafes. "The quality of hotels, restaurants, cafes, tourism services, and hospitality professionals ultimately shapes how visitors experience Indonesia," she said. The FHI 2026 exhibition, running from July 21-24, 2026, at the Jakarta International Expo, features over 500 companies from 32 countries. The event is seen as crucial for strengthening Indonesia's tourism ecosystem.

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The quality of hotels, restaurants, cafes, tourism services, and hospitality professionals ultimately shapes how visitors experience Indonesia.

According to the minister, the exhibition drives innovation, elevates service standards, promotes the sector, and facilitates knowledge exchange among industry players. FHI 2026 also opens avenues for investment in hospitality infrastructure, smart tourism technology, sustainable business practices, and culinary ventures. "This investment is crucial for accelerating the development of quality tourism priority programs from the Ministry of Tourism and enhancing Indonesia's global competitiveness," she added. Furthermore, the event empowers Indonesian SMEs by connecting local producers and entrepreneurs with international buyers and business partners, fostering broader market access for Indonesian culinary products.

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This investment is crucial for accelerating the development of quality tourism priority programs from the Ministry of Tourism and enhancing Indonesia's global competitiveness.