Jakarta, May 29 -- Improvement in gastronomic tourism services is considered important in strengthening Indonesia's tourism competitiveness, which is rooted in culture, tradition, and local wisdom, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said.

Speaking at the opening of the Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2026 in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday (May 28), the minister said the 2026 New Destination Champion Award from La Liste in Paris has reinforced Indonesia's standing as a world-class culinary destination.

"This achievement is further strengthened by the inclusion of local restaurants such as August in Jakarta and Locavore NXT in Bali in this year's list of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants," she remarked in a statement on Friday.

She then ex...