BBTF Targets 47 Countries as Buyers for Indonesian Gastronomy Packages

Badung (ANTARA) - The 12th Bali and Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) in 2026 is targeting tourism operators from 47 countries as buyers for Indonesian gastronomy tourism packages. “Our target for BBTF 2026 is to bring in 400 buyers from 47 countries; so far, 285 have registered. We will use this opportunity to build and maintain Bali as a destination and gateway to Indonesian destinations,” said BBTF 2026 Committee Chairman I Putu Winastra in Badung, Bali, on Monday. Winastra stated that the 2026 travel exhibition will adopt the theme Redefining Indonesia’s Gastronomic Journey: A Celebration of Taste, Cultures, and Sustainable Heritage. As many as 250 Indonesian tourism industry players, particularly from Bali, will present gastronomy or culinary tourism packages during the exhibition days, namely 28-30 May 2026 at the Bali International Convention Centre, Nusa Dua. Winastra, who is also Chairman of ASITA Bali, acknowledged that the current global situation is unstable with the emergence of conflicts in the Middle East. Tourism operators from the Middle East themselves have been active as buyers in previous years, so this year the organisers are trying to attract other countries such as those in the Asia-Pacific region, namely Australia and New Zealand. “Geopolitical tensions, including those in the Middle East region, are beginning to affect travel confidence, flight routes, and operational costs, while the tourism industry is the sector that feels the impact the fastest. In situations like this, a destination is tested, and Bali understands that role,” he said.