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# As a rising global food destination, Indonesia invites travelers to taste its culture
- URL: https://news.cibocom.com/as-a-rising-global-food-destination-indonesia-invites-travelers-to-taste-its-culture/
- Published: 2026-10-14T12:37:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-01T20:02:26.000Z
- Author: Cibocom
- Tags: Featured

**Indonesia’s gastronomy is an opportunity to go beyond its iconic landscapes and discover the country through its food, culture, and people.**

Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy (WIG) 2026 invited travelers to experience this firsthand, using food to connect more deeply with the country’s communities, traditions, and historic settings, including a royal palace and the UNESCO-listed Borobudur and Prambanan Temples.

Launched in Jakarta and Bali in 2025 as Wonderful Indonesia Gourmet, the initiative began by showcasing the creativity and growing confidence of Indonesia’s restaurant industry. Now entering its second year as Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy, its focus extends beyond dining to the traditions and places that shape the country’s food culture.

## Gastronomy is culture

Across more than 17,000 islands and over [1,340](https://en.antaranews.com/news/388385/minister-highlights-indonesias-rich-civilizational-heritage?ref=news.cibocom.com) ethnic groups, Indonesia has developed a vast and varied culinary map, with food reflecting the identities of communities throughout the country.

From September 26 to October 4, Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy (WIG) 2026 explored this relationship under the theme ‘From Local Roots to Global Recognition,’ bringing greater international visibility to local food traditions. Following a 2025 edition in Jakarta and Bali, focused on contemporary gastronomy, WIG 2026 turned to Solo and Yogyakarta, where food remains closely tied to Javanese history, tradition, and everyday life.

The program began with an opening ceremony at Pura Mangkunegaran, a historic royal palace in Solo. Long associated with Javanese culture and tradition, the palace, once the seat of the Mangkunegaran royal court, hosted an evening that brought its tradition of royal dining into a contemporary context.

The opening dinner welcomed local dignitaries and diplomatic representatives, alongside national and global media representatives and tastemakers, chefs, gastronomes, and tourism and hospitality leaders. More than an opportunity to showcase the palace’s dining traditions, the event offered guests another way of experiencing its history and culture. “Food is a living archive of Indonesia’s history, geography and values,” says H.E. Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia.

Through a single dish, travelers can discover stories that have been passed down for generations.

H.E. Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia

At its heart, WIG aims to make gastronomy a reason to travel by bringing greater recognition to Indonesia’s diverse food traditions. “From the sweet aroma of Java to the fiery citrus complexities of Sumatra and the earth-driven fresh ingredients of eastern Indonesia, every river, mountain, and island shapes a distinct regional culinary identity,” says Vita Datau, Chairperson of the Indonesia Gastronomy Network.

The Solo–Yogyakarta route, for example, connects two destinations with distinct culinary identities, offering complementary food experiences that can easily be incorporated into a wider journey through Indonesia.

In Solo, visits to Danar Hadi Restaurant and the historic [Pasar Gede](https://gatewayofjava.com/explore-pasar-gede-surakarta/?ref=news.cibocom.com) introduce travelers to the city through its everyday food culture and local specialties such as nasi liwet (a spiced rice dish) and sate kere (tempeh satay). Beyond food, Solo offers a glimpse into its living cultural traditions, from batik-making to jamu, the centuries-old practice of preparing traditional herbal tonics. At Rumah Atsiri, gardens devoted to aromatic plants supply herbs and spices to its garden-to-table restaurant.

The journey continues in Yogyakarta with a visit to Tamansari Water Castle, an 18th-century royal retreat that reflects the city’s historic past. At local spice shop [Bhumi Bhuvana](https://bumijourney.com/activity/experience-sustainable-living-and-mindfulness-at-bhumi-bhuvana-jogja/?ref=news.cibocom.com), visitors can explore Indonesia’s long history of spice trade, while [Mazaraat Artisan Cheese](https://www.tatlerasia.com/dining/food/how-mazaraat-became-indonesias-leading-artisan-cheese-brand?ref=news.cibocom.com) offers an introduction to local cheesemaking.

For travelers looking to explore further, the annual Indonesia Gourmet Guide features 150 curated restaurants, while the Indonesia Local Eateries offers another way to discover 150 diverse local eateries across Indonesia. Both guides were unveiled during the WIG Talks at Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy 2026 in Yogyakarta.

## Tourism empowers communities

In recent years, Indonesia has gained international recognition as a food destination, from being named La Liste’s New Destination Champion to two restaurants rising in Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2026\. By dining locally, travelers can help create economic opportunities while supporting the agricultural practices and cultural knowledge that sustain the country’s diverse food culture.

This relationship between food, tourism, and community was central to WIG 2026, which aims to turn greater recognition of Indonesian gastronomy into opportunities for the chefs, producers, businesses, and communities behind it.

Heritage can only remain alive when it is learned, shared, and loved. We can do that through food.

WIG Talks brought together 22 speakers to explore how gastronomy can support cultural identity, sustainable tourism, and economic growth. Alongside the discussions, the Artisan Market featured 21 local businesses showcasing Indonesian ingredients, specialty foods, coffee, tea, and other locally made products, creating connections between producers, travelers, and industry partners.

The wider [WIG 2026 program](https://kemenpar.go.id/en/press-releases/press-release-wonderful-indonesia-gastronomy-2026-in-solo-and-yogyakarta-brings-indonesias-local-culinary-heritage-to-the-global-stage?ref=news.cibocom.com) also included chef collaborations across several cities, Indonesia Restaurant Months involving 150 restaurants across six cities, and a Culinary Festival spanning 32 shopping centers in 14 cities.

Food offers a meaningful way to experience Indonesia, its people, and the traditions that keep its culinary heritage alive, making each journey through the country distinct and memorable.