ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — Indonesia’s tourism sector continues to gain strong momentum.
The Ministry of Tourism reported that the country welcomed 11.43 million international tourists from January to September 2025, marking a solid 10.22% growth compared with the same period last year. This achievement reinforces Indonesia’s position as one of the fastest-recovering tourism destinations in the region.
Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, accompanied by Deputy Minister Ni Luh Puspa, expressed optimism that with the current upward trend, Indonesia is on track to surpass its updated 2025 Government Work Plan target of 14–15 million foreign tourist arrivals.
1.39 Million International Arrivals in September, Driven by ASEAN and Asian Markets
According to the latest data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS), international tourist arrivals in September 2025 reached 1.39 million, an increase of 9.04% year-on-year.
The largest contributors were:
ASEAN countries: 35.22%
Other Asian countries: 27.57%
This performance highlights the growing competitiveness of Indonesia’s destinations in the regional and global tourism markets.
Domestic Tourism Surges to 901.90 Million Trips
The domestic travel segment also recorded strong growth. In September 2025:
Domestic tourist trips rose 13.19% to 94.36 million
From January–September 2025, total trips reached 901.90 million, up 18.99% year-on-year
The ministry remains confident that domestic tourism will exceed the 1.08 billion trips targeted under the 2025 Government Work Plan.
The widening gap between international arrivals and domestic tourism — reaching 4.61 million cumulatively — supports Indonesia’s positive net foreign exchange performance.
Tourism Sector Strengthens Indonesia’s Economic Growth
Tourism continues to play a vital role in driving national economic growth. In Q3 2025, Indonesia’s economy grew 5.04%, with the tourism sector contributing 3.96% to the national GDP.
Tourism-related industries also showed strong expansion, including:
Travel agencies and tour operators
Entertainment and recreation services
Passenger transportation and logistics
Hotels, restaurants, cafés, and other accommodation services
With the upcoming Christmas and New Year holidays, the ministry expects tourism performance to strengthen further in the final quarter of 2025.
Government Rolls Out Major Travel Incentives Ahead of Year-End Holidays
To maintain economic momentum, the government has prepared the 8+4+5 Economic Package, including targeted support for the tourism industry:
Government-borne Income Tax (PPh 21) for tourism workers earning up to IDR 10 million per month
A one-year paid internship program involving 39 tourism companies and opening 457 new placements
Ahead of the year-end holiday season, the government is providing significant travel incentives:
13–14% airfare discounts (22 Dec 2025 – 10 Jan 2026)
30% discount on railway tickets
20% discount on sea transportation (17 Dec – 10 Jan)
Waived port service fees for ferry crossings
These incentives aim to boost domestic mobility and stimulate regional economic activity.
Indonesia Shines Globally: 33 Hotels Awarded MICHELIN Keys 2025
Indonesia’s global recognition in hospitality continues to rise. On 8 October 2025:
33 Indonesian hotels were awarded MICHELIN Keys 2025
Two Indonesian properties entered the prestigious World’s 50 Best Hotels list
Bali’s Desa Potato Head received the Eco Hotel Award 2025
These accomplishments mark a significant milestone in Indonesia’s push for premium tourism under the Tourism Upgrading Program.
Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) Draws 10.66 Million Visitors
As of 4 November 2025, the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) program has delivered impressive results:
10.66 million total visitors
IDR 815.39 billion in economic transactions
Involvement of 14,420 MSMEs
Participation of 96,770 creative workers
Creation of over 99,480 jobs
With 12 more events scheduled until year-end, KEN remains a key driver of cultural tourism and local economic development.
Village Tourism and Muslim-Friendly Tourism Strengthened
Indonesia also achieved international recognition at the UN Tourism Best Tourism Villages 2025 awards:
Pemuteran Tourism Village (Bali): Best Tourism Village
Osing Kemiren Tourism Village (Banyuwangi): Upgrade Programme
Four previously awarded villages reported:
13.10% increase in visitors
22.46% rise in community income
To enhance Muslim-friendly tourism, the ministry is collaborating with the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH), resulting in 438 MSMEs receiving halal certification so far. The program will expand across 1,500 tourism villages in 15 provinces.
The ministry also launched the Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI) 2025, developed jointly with Bank Indonesia, EHTC, and CrescentRating, benchmarking provincial readiness toward Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) standards.
Building an Inclusive and Sustainable Tourism Ecosystem
Minister Widiyanti emphasized the government’s commitment to strengthening tourism development through:
Strategic promotion
Cross-sector collaboration
Support for MSMEs and creative industries
Quality enhancement of destinations and services
“Indonesia will continue to build an inclusive, sustainable, and competitive tourism ecosystem that elevates the nation’s global standing,” she stated. (AT Network)
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