Indonesia promotes gastronomy as a global narrative at WIG 2026

The Wonderful Indonesia Gastronomy (WIG) Talks 2026 forum was held at the Grand Hotel De Djokja in Yogyakarta on October 2, 2026. The event brought together government officials, industry players, chefs, academics, and local communities to discuss the role of gastronomy as a driver for social-economic growth and global identity.

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana stated that the goal is to transform Indonesian culinary heritage into a global narrative. The initiative aims to use food as a primary motivation for travel, encouraging tourists to visit specific regions, interact with local communities, and learn about indigenous food ingredients, thereby providing sustainable economic benefits to local residents.

The forum featured 22 speakers across five discussion sessions and a book review session, with attendance exceeding the initial target of 300 people. Alongside the talks, an Artisan Market was held from October 2–4, featuring 21 tenants from the Joglosemar region and Jakarta. The market showcased various local products, including aromatic rice, spices, artisan cheeses, traditional herbal medicine (jamu), coffee, and organic coconut sugar.