Blok M Emerges as Culinary Gateway for Foreign Visitors
- 15 Sep 2026 19:09 WIB
- Voice of Indonesia
Key Points
- South Jakarta's Blok M has been considered as a top culinary destination for international tourists.
- BPS reported that 58.34 percent of international visitors engaged in gastronomy tourism in 2025.
- Jakarta is to be developed into a connected regional gastronomy hub.
RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Blok M's growing popularity among international visitors is highlighting the increasing role of culinary experiences in shaping travel decisions, as Indonesia seeks to strengthen gastronomy as a key tourism attraction.
The Ministry of Tourism said foreign tourists are increasingly making South Jakarta's Blok M a must-visit destination when traveling to the capital, drawn by its diverse food offerings and rapidly evolving culinary scene.
"Blok M is not only popular among Gen Z, millennials, and the general public, but it has also gained recognition internationally," Deputy for Marketing Ni Made Ayu Marthini said during the Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, as quoted by Antara.
According to Made, many foreign visitors come to Blok M to explore a wide range of trendy food options, including visually appealing desserts and modern interpretations of traditional Indonesian snacks.
She described the area as one of Jakarta's top culinary destinations, noting that many food trends are currently centered there. The trend reflects broader tourism patterns in Indonesia.
Citing data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), Made said 58.34 percent of international visitors to Indonesia in 2025 participated in culinary or gastronomic tourism activities. Malaysian tourists were among the foreign visitors most frequently seen exploring Blok M's food scene.
"Might be because they have been exposed to the algorithms on Threads, Instagram, and TikTok, where they see many testimonials from Malaysian tourists visiting Indonesia," she said.
Made viewed the development as a positive sign for Indonesia's culinary industry, which can contribute to economic growth, increase tourism revenue, and attract more international travelers. "This shows that gastronomy has become a very significant attraction and an important part of the travel experience," she said.
Acting Deputy for Event Development at the Ministry of Tourism, Hafiz Agung Rifai, said the government aims to position Jakarta as a gastronomic hub that connects travelers with culinary destinations across other regions of Indonesia.
"We want Jakarta to become a gastronomic hub that is linked to other culinary destinations such as Yogyakarta, Solo, and Bali," Hafiz said.
"Everything should be connected through a culinary tourism route that can encourage visitors to continue their journey to other regions," he continued, adding that the ministry hopes gastronomy will become a major pillar of Indonesia's tourism industry in the long term.
"It should not simply complement a trip but become one of the main reasons why tourists choose Indonesia as their travel destination," he concluded. ***
News Recomendation
Loading latest news.....