Indonesia's tourism ministry backs 25 firms in WISH 2026 program

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism is working to boost competitiveness, market access, investment and partnerships for 25 tourism operators through its Wonderful Indonesia Scale-up Hub (WISH) 2026 program, the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.

"Through training, mentoring, coaching, and business matching, this program aims to bridge business potential with more concrete expansion opportunities," said Rizki Handayani Mustafa, acting deputy for industry and investment.

The program aims to build operators' capacity in business management, product and service quality, and access to markets, capital and strategic partnerships.

This year it focuses on gastronomy, wellness and heritage tourism, sectors seen as offering authentic experiences while raising the economic value of Indonesia's culinary heritage, traditions and culture.

After administrative selection, two stages of capacity building, curation and mentorship, 25 participants advanced to WISH 2026 Demo Day in Jakarta on Friday.

Participants pitched their growth plans, innovations, product strengths and market readiness to potential investors, business partners and tourism industry stakeholders.

Rizki said shifting traveler preferences toward personalized, meaningful experiences create an opportunity for local businesses to offer products with strong character and identity.

She said she hopes WISH 2026 will go beyond capacity building and generate actionable opportunities through investment, access to capital, market expansion and long-term partnerships.

Hanifah Makarim, assistant deputy for business development and access to capital, said the program began in mid-2026 and drew 564 applicants, narrowed to 25 for Demo Day.

The businesses come from 19 provinces and offer travel experiences centered on nature, culture, history, gastronomy, wellness and thematic tours reflecting local identities.

Through direct meetings with industry players, participants can showcase products, gauge market demand, explore distribution channels and build partnerships to expand their reach.

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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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