Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, October 9, 2026 at 09:28 AM UTC

Indonesia steps up tourism promotion, safety ahead of two-year mark

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Hreeloita Dharma Shanti, Cindy Frishanti Octavia

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is stepping up efforts to promote its culinary heritage, regional events and tourism safety as President Prabowo Subianto’s administration approaches its second anniversary.

“We want to show that Indonesia’s traditional roots and local riches can help bring our gastronomy to the world stage,” Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said in Jakarta on Friday.

The ministry’s Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy (WIG) program showcased the country’s culinary diversity, with this year’s events centered on Solo and Yogyakarta under the theme “From Local Roots to Global Recognition.”

The events brought together Indonesian and international chefs.

The Tastemaker Gastronomy Trip brought together 18 media representatives and culinary tastemakers from 11 countries, while WIG Talks featured 22 government and industry experts and drew more than 300 participants.

The three-day Artisan Market featured 21 local brands and 13 collaborators, attracting more than 2,000 visitors, well above its target of 1,300.

Further programs planned through December include Indonesia Restaurant Months, culinary festivals and chef collaborations in several cities, all open to the public.

“WIG is more than a culinary festival. It is a long-term platform to strengthen the gastronomy ecosystem, expand markets for local products and create business and collaboration opportunities,” she said.

Amid recent natural disasters and accidents, the ministry is also strengthening safety and security measures across the tourism sector.

Increased activity at Mount Anak Krakatau in early September disrupted air travel. As of September 8, 35 airports had been affected, disrupting 4,132 flights and affecting 454,551 passengers, according to InJourney Airports.

The ministry is coordinating with stakeholders, including online travel agencies, to encourage force majeure provisions, speed up refunds and offer affected travelers flight changes without additional fees.

“Tourism growth must go hand in hand with crisis preparedness. Traveler safety must always come first,” Widiyanti said.

The ministry is also supporting the recovery of Sade hamlet in West Nusa Tenggara after a fire in August 2026.

“Destination recovery means rebuilding the local economy, not just infrastructure. We want Sade to return as a safer, more resilient destination while preserving its cultural identity and authenticity,” she said.

On September 30, the ministry provided Rp817.5 million (about US$45,700) in business aid and equipment, including 15 traditional backstrap looms, working capital for 69 micro, small and medium enterprises, 70 weaving-material kits and 43 non-textile craft-tool packages.

Additional assistance includes training for local guides, renewed tourism promotion and activities, product catalog development, branding and digital marketing.

The 2026 Wonderful Indonesia Event program, known as Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN), supports 125 selected regional events across 38 provinces. As of September 30, 89 events had taken place in 34 provinces.

Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa said an assessment of 78 events recorded 9.97 million visitors and Rp888.52 billion (about US$49.7 million) in direct economic transactions, excluding multiplier effects.

The events also involved 19,866 small businesses and 120,642 artists, while generating jobs for 58,077 workers.

“This is what we aim to promote through ‘Event by Indonesia.’ Events are not just attractions; they also drive tourist activity and regional economic growth,” Puspa said.

The ministry also launched Indonesia Tourism Outlook 2026/2027, a report covering trends, prospects and strategic issues shaping the country’s tourism sector.

Puspa said the outlook is intended to guide the government, industry, academia and other stakeholders in building a competitive, high-quality, inclusive and sustainable tourism sector.

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