Indonesia's Culinary Heritage: A Key Strategy to Boost Foreign Tourism

TheIndonesia.co - The Ministry of Tourism is spotlighting Indonesia's rich culinary traditions as a major driver to attract more international visitors.

"Indeed, culinary tourism is one of our priority programs, both in the short and long term," said Hariyanto, Deputy for Tourism and Infrastructure Development at the ministry, on Friday (February 8th, 2025), according to Antara News Agency.

He emphasized that Indonesia offers a wide array of local dishes for tourists to experience, including fried rice, gado-gado (vegetable salad with peanut sauce), and soto (traditional Indonesian soup).

What makes Indonesian culinary tourism even more appealing is its connection to local wisdom and regional culture, Hariyanto noted.

Culinary tourism in Indonesia holds boundless potential, making it an especially attractive option for foreign tourists compared to other destinations like Thailand. This offers a significant opportunity to increase foreign tourist spending.

"There is so much we must focus on. Culinary tourism is a vital part of the tourism product," he added.

The Ministry of Tourism is actively working to enhance the quality of Indonesian culinary offerings to elevate the tourism experience. Additionally, efforts are underway to highlight wellness tourism, gastronomy, marine tourism, and fashion.

"Fashion also has great potential to attract both domestic and international visitors," he explained.

According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), foreign tourists in 2024 spent an average of US$1,391 per visit, with accommodation and food & beverages accounting for 57.49% of their total spending.

In the last quarter of 2024, the average expenditure was US$1,287 per visit, with tourists staying in Indonesia for an average of 10.39 nights.