Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry, led by Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, announced strategic programs for 2026 to strengthen Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and creative industries, which make up over 96% of the country’s 2.55 million tourism enterprises. The initiatives include tourism attraction curation, expanded mentoring aligned with destination development, and competency-based training to build workforce skills. New travel patterns will highlight cultural heritage, Muslim-friendly tourism, and marine tourism, integrating MSMEs and creative players into curated visitor experiences. Priority regions such as North Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara, and Yogyakarta will see targeted support through local implementing bodies. Widiyanti also emphasized the expansion of programs like Wonderful Indonesia Gourmet, Wellness, and S’RASA, which promote Indonesian cuisine abroad through menu standardization and culinary curation. By incorporating MSME products and creative works into tourism, the ministry aims to foster emotional engagement with international visitors. She pledged more opportunities for MSMEs and artists through events and promotions, while Commission VII Chairman Saleh Partaonan Daulay called for more structured empowerment programs and better use of local commodities such as coffee and natural resources to maximize tourism potential.Source: https://en.antaranews.com/news/392597/indonesia-to-boost-tourism-msmes-expand-culinary-diplomacy-in-2026  (ICE GIACARTA)

Fonte notizia: ANTARA NEWS, 19 November 2025