WITF 2026 Highlights Unique Travel Experiences Across Indonesia

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia’s appeal in the international tourism market is increasingly centered on the diversity of unique experiences that travelers cannot find in their home countries. This trend was highlighted at the 2026 Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair (WITF), which is encouraging local industry players to offer cultural and natural attractions in more exploratory ways.

WITF 2026 Steering Committee Chairperson, Budi Tirtawisata, said experiences were among the main factors buyers considered when selecting Indonesian tourism products, rather than accommodation such as hotels alone.

“The most important thing is how we can provide experiences in Indonesia. We are not merely selling hotel stays; beyond hotels, what other tour packages can we offer?” said Budi in Jakarta on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

He said the different travel experiences sought by tourists included the diversity and beauty of destinations across Indonesia. One example is the experience of watching the sunrise at Borobudur Temple through a sunrise tour that begins at around 4 a.m., an experience that is not easily found in other countries.

Recognizing this significant potential, the Ministry of Tourism, together with the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) and the Jakarta Provincial Administration, is organizing WITF 2026. The event is intended to ensure that participating industry players are drawn from a broad range of regions across Indonesia, from West Sumatra and South Sumatra to Maluku.

“We are trying to achieve a broader distribution of destinations across Indonesia,” he said, as quoted by Antara.

On the buyers’ side, Budi said participants in WITF 2026 had previously been selected from more than 35 countries. The selection process took several factors into account, including the availability of direct flights and the ease of obtaining visas to Indonesia.

“We look for countries with direct flights, for example. We also look for countries whose citizens can obtain visas more easily to Indonesia. This enables them to offer experiences or tour packages to their clients,” he said.

WITF 2026, themed Beyond Borders: Shaping the Future of Indonesian Tourism, will be held from October 15 to 17, 2026, at the Grand Ballroom of JIExpo Kemayoran in Jakarta.

The event is officially entering its third year. WITF is designed to connect Indonesian tourism industry players with international decision-makers and buyers through a business-to-business (B2B) tourism tradeshow platform.

WITF 2026 will bring together dozens of tour operators, travel agencies, hotels, transportation companies, airlines, and passenger rail operators. The B2B exhibition will also feature tourism village managers, liveaboard operators, theme parks, restaurants, wellness services, and various other tourism-support products.

On the demand side, WITF 2026 has invited more than 100 international buyers from 34 countries. They will be connected with Indonesian exhibitors through a series of business-matching sessions. ***