The new President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, has named Widiyanti Putri Wardhana as the country’s new Minister of Tourism, replacing Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno in the outgoing administration. The new minister was sworn in on 21 October.
“On behalf of the entire tourism and creative economy family, I would like to extend a warm welcome and best wishes to the new ministers,” said the outgoing Sandiago in his speech to mark the transition. “I am confident and optimistic that their achievements will be even greater in the future,” he added.
As part of the new president’s so-called ‘red and white’ cabinet – the largest of its kind since 1966, with a total of 48 ministries – the Ministry of Tourism has been separated from the Ministry of Creative Economy. Under the previous administration, these ministries were grouped together.
In her first speech as Minister, Widiyanti, often referred to simply as ‘Widi’ in Indonesia, outlined her objectives for the first six months in office. This covered the following four areas: engaging with relevant stakeholders to help transform the tourism sector; developing tourism 5.0 initiatives by implementing digital-based marketing strategies for events and introducing AI travel assistance; formulating a grand strategy for the Indonesia Quality Tourism Fund, which will involve diversifying domestic attractions and hosting international-scale events; and establishing collaborations with world-class institutions.
“I will bring a new perspective and enthusiasm to advance Indonesia’s tourism sector in the future,” said Widiyanti in her speech. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Pepperdine University in California and has over 30 years of experience in the business world. She noted that this experience has taught her the importance of smart strategies, efficient methods and collaboration.
The new minister is the daughter of Wiwoho Basuki Tjokronegoro, founder of Teladan Group, which operates in various sectors, including agribusiness and mining. “My family has always supported me and been a source of strength in every step I take,” she noted. During the ceremony, she introduced her family, including her husband, Wishnu Wardhana, former CEO of PT Indika Energy, one of Indonesia’s largest energy companies.
Since 2004, Widiyanti has been involved in the agribusiness sector through PT Teladan Prima Agro, a palm oil plantation company in East Kalimantan. She has been a commissioner at the company since 2021 and previously served as its director for 9 years. She also holds commissioner roles at the company’s subsidiaries, including PT Teladan Agro Resources. In addition to her business work, Widiyanti is known for her active involvement in social initiatives.
