ER
THE performance of Indonesia’s tourism sector continues to show positive growth, marked by increasing international tourist visits, domestic tourist movements, and the holding of various events that reflect the competitiveness and resilience of the tourism sector amidst global dynamics.
Tourism Minister, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, stated in a press conference at the Indonesian Government Communications Agency Office on Wednesday (July 15, 2026), that these achievements strengthen optimism regarding the tourism sector as a leading sector in driving business growth and the community economy.
“The tourism sector is expected to increasingly contribute significantly to national economic growth,” said Minister Widiyanti.
The Minister of Tourism explained that international tourist visits in May 2026 reached 1.38 million, a 5.83% increase compared to May 2025. Cumulatively, the number of international tourist visits by May 2026 reached 6.07 million, a 7.68% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
This growth was driven by the Ministry of Tourism’s strategy focused on strengthening short- and medium-haul markets. The positive trend in international tourist visits also remained strong amidst geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.
An increase also occurred in domestic tourist trips, which are the main driver of domestic tourism. According to data, domestic tourist trips grew 8.69% year-on-year in May 2026. Cumulatively, domestic tourist trips by May 2026 reached 523.22 million, a 2.86% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
A positive trend is also evident in the comparison between international tourist visits and domestic tourist trips abroad. The number of foreign tourist visits was recorded at 0.83 million, exceeding the number of Indonesian citizens traveling abroad. This surplus represents a 15.48 percent annual increase.
According to the Minister of Tourism, this achievement reflects the increasing contribution of the tourism sector to the country’s foreign exchange earnings. The Ministry of Tourism will continue to maintain this growth trend by strengthening connectivity, improving destination quality, organizing events, and conducting more targeted promotions.
“Thus, the tourism sector can make a greater contribution to national economic growth,” he said.
To support this contribution, the Ministry of Tourism is implementing five flagship programs: improving travel safety, developing tourist villages, promoting quality tourism, Events by Indonesia, and Tourism 5.0.
These five flagship programs will continue to be accelerated to build a future for Indonesian tourism that is increasingly inclusive, high-quality, sustainable, and has a real impact on the community.
In his presentation, the Minister also highlighted the increasing competitiveness of Indonesian tourism, particularly in the Muslim-friendly tourism segment. Indonesia won the Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year award at the 2026 Global Muslim Travel Index Awards. [traveltext.id]
