WIA 2026 to Identify Inspirational Figures Driving Regional Tourism

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Ministry of Tourism through the Wonderful Indonesia Award (WIA) 2026 will identify inspirational figures driving regional tourism who have made real contributions to the development of sustainable tourism.

“Through the Wonderful Indonesia Award in the Pejuang Pariwisata category, we are encouraging the emergence of local drivers capable of creating sustainable economic, social, and environmental impacts while strengthening Indonesia’s tourism competitiveness on a global level,” said Deputy for Resources and Institutions at the Ministry of Tourism, Martini M. Paham, in an official statement confirmed in Jakarta on Friday.

Martini emphasised that tourism development does not only focus on destination enhancement but also on strengthening people as the main actors.

The upcoming online socialisation will be attended by provincial, regency, and city tourism offices, as well as representatives from academics, associations, NGOs, state-owned enterprises, and private institutions as potential nominators of candidates.

This activity aims to provide technical understanding while aligning perceptions regarding the mechanisms, evaluation criteria, and selection stages of the WIA 2026 Pejuang Pariwisata category.

The Pejuang Pariwisata category award is also expected to serve as an instrument to identify, document, and promote best practices in sustainable tourism development that have not been widely exposed to the public.

“Their presence is an important factor in ensuring that tourism programmes can run sustainably and deliver real impacts for society,” said Martini.

“Adjustments have been made to strengthen transparency, objectivity, and accountability throughout the process stages, from nomination to evaluation. We also encourage active participation from all stakeholders in nominating the best candidates from their respective regions,” said Ika.

The Ministry of Tourism invites all stakeholders to actively participate in identifying inspirational tourism fighters from various regions in Indonesia. The selected tourism fighters are expected to become the driving force for inclusive, sustainable, and competitive tourism development.

Further information regarding candidate requirements and the WIA 2026 Pejuang Pariwisata category timeline can be accessed through this link.