Speaking at the opening of the Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2026 in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday (May 28), the minister said the 2026 New Destination Champion Award from La Liste in Paris has reinforced Indonesia’s standing as a world-class culinary destination.
"This achievement is further strengthened by the inclusion of local restaurants such as August in Jakarta and Locavore NXT in Bali in this year's list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants," she remarked in a statement on Friday.
She then expressed her appreciation for the organization of BBTF 2026, which carries the theme “Redefining Indonesia’s Gastronomic Journey: A Celebration of Taste, Cultures, and Sustainable Heritage.”
According to her, this theme aligns with global trends increasingly shifting toward services that deliver authentic travel experiences, culinary tourism, and sustainable tourism.
BBTF 2026 presents gastronomy as an essential part of the travel experience, as well as a representation of culture, history, and tradition.
The Committee Chair of BBTF 2026, I Putu Winastra, said the event positions gastronomy as part of a differentiation strategy to strengthen Bali's position in the global tourism market.
"Through gastronomy, Bali demonstrates that tourism goes beyond the destination, but also relates to culture, community, and the daily lives of the people," Winastra remarked.
Meanwhile, Minister Wardhana mentioned that Indonesia welcomed 15.39 million foreign tourist visits in 2025 and earned US$18.27 billion in foreign exchange earnings from the tourism sector.
During that period, Bali received 6.95 million foreign tourist visits, or nearly 45 percent of the nation's total foreign tourist visits.
"These figures show that Bali remains strong, trusted, and continues to be a major magnet for Indonesian tourism," she emphasized.
Furthermore, she pointed out that BBTF 2026 could boost tourism growth, bringing positive impacts for destination managers, business operators, and local communities.
In addition, the B2B Travex event at BBTF 2026 presents an opportunity to expand market access, strengthen tourism business networks, and encourage the development of more competitive tour packages tailored to market needs.
Winastra informed that BBTF 2026 was attended by 407 buyers from 44 countries and 286 sellers from four countries and 13 provinces in Indonesia.
International buyers attending the event were able to directly assess the readiness of tourist destinations, the quality of tourism services, and Indonesia’s cultural richness through the post-BBTF 2026 tour program.
To support the implementation of BBTF 2026, the Ministry of Tourism facilitated familiarization trips to North Sumatra, Yogyakarta, Tanjung Puting, Lombok, and Jakarta.
The program was attended by 22 participants divided into four travel groups.
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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma S, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Arie Novarina
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