Tourism Ministry Promotes "Jelajah Indonesia Wastra Nusantara"

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Ministry of Tourism is hosting a traditional textile exhibition titled "Jelajah Indonesia Wastra Nusantara" at the Rama Atrium, East Mall Level 1, Grand Indonesia, Jakarta, from September 2 to 6, 2026. This five-day exhibition is part of the Ministry's efforts to strengthen cultural and experience-based tourism, specifically by bringing Indonesia's rich cultural heritage and diverse destinations closer to urban audiences.

Ni Made Ayu Marthini, the Ministry’s Deputy for Marketing, stated in Jakarta on Friday, September 4, 2026 that traditional textiles wastra held immense potential as a cultural tourism attraction, as each fabric embodies the identity, knowledge, traditions, and stories of its region of origin. Through this exhibition, the Ministry highlights the richness of Indonesian textiles—ranging from batik and woven fabrics to ikat—as a storytelling medium that connects the public with tourism destinations.

According to a release received by RRI Voice of Indonesia on Friday, September 4, 2026 that this approach aims to spark public interest in discovering and visiting the regions where these textiles originate, while simultaneously boosting tourism spending.

“Indonesia possesses an extraordinary wealth of traditional textiles (wastra), serving as both a cultural identity and a tourism magnet. We hope this synergy positions wastra not merely as textile products, but as a bridge connecting tourists to the unique destinations across Indonesia’s various regions,” Ni Made Ayu said. In organizing this event, the Ministry of Tourism collaborated with several cross-sector strategic partners.

One such collaboration was with BCA, which provided a 112-square-meter exhibition area in the Rama Atrium. The exhibition was also supported by the Indonesian Retailers and Shopping Center Tenants Association (HIPPINDO) and BINA.

Assistant Deputy for Domestic Tourism Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism, Erwita, Dianti stated that cross-sector collaboration plays a vital role in expanding promotional opportunities for wastra while simultaneously introducing the destinations where these rich cultural assets originate and thrive.

“The partnership between the Ministry of Tourism, BCA, HIPPINDO, and BINA is crucial to presenting a truly representative exhibition. Thanks to the exhibition space provided by BCA and HIPPINDO’s retail network, we can offer a broader platform to showcase the beauty of Indonesian wastra. We hope this initiative will not only heighten public appreciation for these textiles but also encourage domestic tourists to visit the destinations where they originate,” Erwita said.

To strengthen the connection between wastra and the travel experience, the exhibition features tourism industry players representing various destinations: Batik Warisan (Pekalongan, Central Java); Lombok Paradise Tour & Travel (Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara); the Borobudur Authority Agency (representing Yogyakarta and Central Java); Jabu Bonang (Lake Toba, North Sumatra); Ainon Holidays (Palembang, South Sumatra); CakraMahira Bespoke Travel (Jakarta); 8 Island Adventure (Bali); and APH Travel & MICE (West Sumatra).

Batik Riana Kesuma and Batik & Tenun Rolla also participated as representatives of the retail sector, showcasing diverse collections of Indonesian batik and woven fabrics. The presence of these tourism industry players offered visitors the opportunity not only to discover the diversity of traditional textiles but also to obtain information on destinations and cultural travel options across various regions of Indonesia.

Throughout the five-day event, visitors could participate in a range of educational and interactive activities, including batik-making sessions with artisans, fashion shows featuring regional textile collections—presented by Miss and Mister Tourism representatives mentored by ASPPI—as well as interactive discussions with tourism industry professionals, quizzes, and styling sessions.