Gastronomy Tour: Bringing Indonesian Flavors to World-Class Tourism Experiences

The aroma of spices, the smiles of local culinary entrepreneurs, and the footsteps of visitors filled Hall 9 of ICE BSD City, Tangerang. The Pangan Nusa 2025 exhibition is not merely a showcase of archipelago food products, but also presents culinary experiences as part of the tourism journey.

The Ministry of Tourism (Kemenpar) launched the Gastronomy Tour program at the exhibition held from October 15–18, 2025.

This program involves six selected gastronomy industry players who previously underwent a curation process through the Wonderful Indonesia Scale-Up Hub (WISH).

Deputy for Industry and Investment of Kemenpar, Rizki Handayani, explained that this program themed "Eat, Explore, Experience Indonesia Gastronomy" is part of the Tourism Upgrade campaign.

"Through Gastronomy Tour, we want to show that Indonesia's culinary richness is not just about flavor, but also about cultural heritage and accompanying experiences," stated Rizki.

Culinary as an Experience, Not Just a Dish

The six gastronomy industries involved are Wisata Kreatif Jakarta, Rendang Traveler Uni Reno, Bumi Bhuvana, Dje Djak Rasa, Samsara Living Museum, and Negeri Rempah Foundation.

The players don't just serve food, but also the stories, philosophy, and cultural rituals behind it.

This approach becomes a new strategy in tourism promotion by making culinary the gateway to understanding Nusantara's history, identity, and diversity.

Rizki emphasized that Gastronomy Tour also opens investment opportunities and business networking in the culinary sector, including utilizing innovations from Food Startup Indonesia (FSI).

"The momentum of Pangan Nusa 2025 is expected to be a crucial stepping stone in establishing Indonesia as a world-class gastronomy destination," he said.

Pangan Nusa 2025 More Than Just an Exhibition

This exhibition is organized by the Ministry of Trade as part of the 40th Trade Expo Indonesia (TEI) series with the spirit of "Encouraging Local Products to Penetrate Global Markets."

A total of 186 culinary and packaged food businesses participated, ranging from MSMEs to large industries.

Among them, 37 businesses served ready-to-eat dishes onsite. The rest showcased premium packaged food products, from snacks and traditional beverages to processed spices and strictly curated raw materials.

Pangan Nusa serves not only as a promotional space but also as a strategic platform connecting businesses with international buyers, expanding export access, and strengthening Indonesia's position in the global food supply chain.

Collaboration for Global Reach

For Kemenpar, cross-ministerial and industry collaboration is key to making gastronomy a new force in Indonesian tourism.

"Through this strategic collaboration, Kemenpar hopes Indonesia's gastronomy industry will gain greater international recognition, secure new market access, and strengthen culinary MSMEs' contribution to national economic growth," said Rizki.

Through narrative, experiential, and innovative approaches, Gastronomy Tour transforms culinary from mere consumption to being celebrated as part of an authentic tourism journey that makes Indonesia proud in the eyes of the world.