Indonesia Targets South Korea With Culinary Tourism Campaign

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Amid a roaring reciprocal interest in cultural and entertainment exports, Indonesia is moving to capitalize on its close ties with South Korea by making a targeted push into high-value niche travel markets, specifically focusing on specialized gastronomic tourism and synchronized digital promotions.

The strategy took center stage during a high-level bilateral meeting between Indonesian Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana and South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Chae Hwi Young. Held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, on the sidelines of the 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM13) in Macau SAR, China. The discussion marks a concerted effort by Jakarta to pivot toward culinary diplomacy as a tool to attract affluent East Asian travelers.

According to a ministry statement confirmed on Monday, June 29, 2026, the updated cooperative framework will move beyond standard marketing. Instead, it will feature heavily integrated joint promotional campaigns alongside the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) and regional travel operators to cross-promote local culinary heritages, while streamlining tour packaging.

"With the same vision within the framework of APEC and UN Tourism, Indonesia and the Republic of Korea have a great opportunity to bring tourism cooperation to a more advanced level and provide real benefits for both countries," Minister Widiyanti said, noting that the aligning goals of both countries could spark broader economic synergies in adjacent creative sectors, as quoted by Antara.

South Korea has consistently positioned itself as one of Indonesia's most vital and lucrative tourism source markets. To accelerate tourist flows, Minister Widiyanti expressed her appreciation for Seoul's recent milestone decision to grant a temporary visa waiver for Indonesian group travelers, which officially came into effect on May 28, 2026.

At the broader APEC summit, Indonesia reaffirmed its position as a key driver of sustainable tourism across the Asia-Pacific corridor. The country's regional agenda emphasizes accelerating digital integration, boosting the capacity of rural communities, and structurally empowering micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to participate directly in the international tourism value chain.

Furthermore, the Indonesian delegation formally endorsed the execution of the APEC Tourism Strategic Plan 2025–2029 and the Putrajaya Vision 2040. The ministry also expressed strong backing for recent APEC policy frameworks designed to optimize travel facilitation measures, aiming to significantly reduce cross-border transit friction for travelers across the Asia-Pacific region. ***