Indonesia’s WISH 2026 Program Connects 25 Tourism Operators with Investors and Partners
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism is working to strengthen the competitiveness, market access, investment prospects and partnerships of 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 at the ministry.
The program is designed to build the capacity of tourism operators in business management and in the quality of their products and services, while improving their access to markets, capital and strategic partnerships.
This year’s edition focuses on gastronomy, wellness and heritage tourism, sectors regarded as offering authentic experiences while increasing the economic value of Indonesia’s culinary heritage, traditions and culture.
Following administrative selection and two stages of capacity building, curation and mentorship, 25 participants advanced to the WISH 2026 Demo Day, held in Jakarta on Friday. At the event, participants presented their growth plans, innovations, product strengths and market readiness to potential investors, business partners and stakeholders from the tourism industry.
Rizki noted that changing traveller preferences, with growing demand for personalised and meaningful experiences, have created an opportunity for local businesses to offer products with a strong character and distinct identity. She expressed hope that WISH 2026 would go beyond capacity building and deliver tangible results in the form of investment, access to capital, market expansion and long-term partnerships.
Hanifah Makarim, Assistant Deputy for Business Development and Access to Capital, said the program was launched in mid-2026 and attracted 564 applicants, who were gradually narrowed down to the 25 finalists selected for Demo Day.
The participating businesses come from 19 provinces across Indonesia and offer travel experiences centred on nature, culture, history, gastronomy, wellness and thematic tours that reflect local identities.
Through direct engagement with industry players, the participants are able to showcase their products, assess market demand, explore distribution channels and build partnerships to broaden their reach, reinforcing the ministry’s broader effort to develop a more competitive and sustainable tourism sector in Indonesia.
