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INDONESIA continues to solidify its reputation as a premier gastronomic destination. The 2026 New Destination Champion Award at the Annual La Liste Awards Ceremony recognizes Indonesia’s rapid development and immense potential as a new gastronomic destination, considered a must-visit for gastronomy enthusiasts. The Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, accepted this distinguished award on behalf of the government.
The Annual La Liste Awards Ceremony, which also commemorated La Liste’s 10th anniversary this year, was meticulously organized by La Liste in collaboration with the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. The event was hosted by French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot and Ambassador of France Philippe Fauré, President of La Liste.
Each year, La Liste compiles a list of The World’s Top 1000 Best Restaurants and presents a number of Special Awards to individuals, restaurants, and countries deemed to have contributed to the development of global gastronomy. Indonesia was also acknowledged as a recipient of a Special Award. La Liste positions itself as a selective, global culinary guide accessible digitally for every gourmet traveler.
This award, received by Indonesia through the Ministry of Tourism, is of strategic importance in strengthening Indonesia’s reputation as a leading global gastronomic destination and enhancing culinary diplomacy on the global stage. This award is also an important opportunity to promote the archipelago’s rich gastronomic traditions, which the Ministry of Tourism has previously supported through various strategic programs, such as Wonderful Indonesia Gourmet.
As part of the 2026 New Destination Champion Award, La Liste recognized two Indonesian restaurants as the best examples of Indonesian gastronomic excellence, acting as Gastronomy Ambassadors for Indonesia: Rumari Raffles Bali was selected as the best example from Bali and is represented by Chef Gaetan Biesuz. Esa Restaurant was selected as the best example from Jakarta and is represented by Chef Aditya Muskita. This year also marks the debut of Rumari Raffles Bali in The World’s Top 1000 Best Restaurants for 2026.
“We are very grateful and proud that Indonesia has received an award from La Liste, a global recognition of the richness and uniqueness of Indonesian gastronomy. This award belongs not only to the Ministry of Tourism, but also to the farmers, fishermen, culinary entrepreneurs, chefs, MSMEs, and communities throughout the archipelago who have preserved and enriched our traditions,” said Widiyanti after receiving the award.
The La Liste 10th Anniversary series of events took place over two days, November 23-24, 2025, and was attended by important and renowned figures. The event was attended by prime ministers and ministers from previous periods, international gastronomy figures, and chefs from various countries.
Indonesia hopes that this significant accomplishment from La Liste will not only propel Indonesia to the forefront of the global gastronomic landscape but also establish a foundation for collaboration with various international gastronomic networks.
“This achievement underscores our dedication to establishing gastronomy as a pivotal component of Indonesian tourism and a means of promoting cultural diplomacy on the global stage. We will continue to introduce Indonesian flavors to the international stage and ensure that the richness of Indonesian gastronomy is increasingly recognized, appreciated, and loved by the world,” Widiyanti affirmed.
Through this award, the Ministry of Tourism is committed to continuously encouraging innovation, sustainability, and the promotion of Indonesian gastronomic culture so that it is increasingly recognized and appreciated internationally. With the support of stakeholders, this initiative is expected to be a strategic step to elevate Indonesian gastronomy, increase its competitiveness, and maintain its strong position on the global gastronomic stage. [traveltext.id]
