Indonesia Targets Becoming Asia's Premier Gastronomy Destination

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Tourism aims to establish Indonesia as a premier gastronomy destination in Asia. This goal follows a survey by Statistics Indonesia (BPS) revealing that more than half of foreign tourists engaged in culinary tourism during their visits to the country.

Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, announced this during a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. According to the 2026 BPS survey, 58.34 percent of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in 2025 participated in culinary or gastronomic tourism activities.

This figure makes culinary tourism the second most popular activity among foreign tourists, ranking just behind enjoying the country's natural beauty. "Foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in 2025 will engage in culinary or gastronomic tourism, making it the second-highest activity. Because of this potential, gastronomic tourism will certainly be part of the Ministry of Tourism's flagship quality tourism program," Widiyanti said.

She highlighted the achievements of several Indonesian restaurants on the international stage as proof that the nation's cuisine can compete globally. In the "Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2026" list, two Indonesian restaurants secured the 42nd and 44th spots.

Furthermore, Indonesia received the "New Destination Champion Award 2026" from La Liste, a French-based international restaurant ranking organization. "For us, this achievement signals that Indonesia possesses gastronomic products, talent, and stories capable of competing at a global level," she said.

This award serves as recognition of the rapid development of Indonesia's gastronomy ecosystem in recent years. "We aim to build upon this momentum," the Minister said.

Widiyanti further said growing global interest in Indonesian gastronomy creates broader opportunities for industry players. These opportunities extend across the entire tourism ecosystem, benefiting everyone from restaurants, chefs, and MSMEs to local producers.

The Ministry of Tourism remains committed to fostering the preservation, development, and promotion of Indonesia's rich gastronomic heritage. The goal is to establish Indonesia as a gastronomic hub in Asia and even the world.