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INDONESIAN tourism has demonstrated resilience amidst global geopolitical dynamics—including tensions in the Middle East—with both foreign tourist arrivals and domestic tourist trips showing growth through August 2026 compared to the same period the previous year.
Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana stated, while presenting the Ministry of Tourism’s monthly performance report at the Sapta Pesona Building in Jakarta on Thursday (10/08), 2026, said that this achievement demonstrates the continued strength of Indonesia’s tourism foundation and the positive momentum of tourism activity.
“We should be grateful that, amidst the current situation, Indonesian tourism continues to show resilience and maintain positive growth,” said Widiyanti.
She explained that in August 2026, Indonesia welcomed 1.60 million foreign tourist arrivals, a 6.27% increase compared to August 2025. Cumulatively, from January to August 2026, foreign tourist arrivals reached 10.58 million, representing a year-on-year growth of 5.38%.
“Market diversification strategies targeting short-haul and medium-haul markets are also showing positive progress. Tourist arrivals from other Asian regions grew by 8.41%, Southeast Asia by 7.75%, and Oceania by 7.36%. As the situation gradually improves, cumulative tourist arrivals from the Middle East have also returned to positive growth, rising by 1.30%,” she affirmed.
Increased Competitiveness
In the Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI) 2026 released by the World Economic Forum in September, Indonesia’s score rose to 4.56, up from 4.46 in 2024. Indonesia ranked 23rd globally, sixth in the Asia-Pacific region, and second in Southeast Asia, trailing only Singapore.
Indonesia also ranked first globally in the “Prioritization of Travel & Tourism” pillar with a score of 6.12, fifth in “Price Competitiveness,” ninth in “Natural Resources,” and 15th in both “Cultural Resources” and “Socioeconomic Impact.”
“This achievement demonstrates the government’s strong commitment to the tourism sector, as well as the vast natural and cultural assets we possess. However, the TTDI also provides a clear picture of the work that remains to be done, particularly regarding tourism infrastructure and services, health and hygiene, digital readiness, travel openness, and safety and security,” Widiyanti added.
According to her, tourism development cannot be undertaken by a single ministry alone, as tourism competitiveness is the result of collaborative efforts among all stakeholders.
Growth in Tourism Investment
In September 2026, the Ministry of Tourism hosted a “Monthly Economic Diplomatic Breakfast” in collaboration with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), bringing together government officials, business leaders, and the diplomatic corps. Realized tourism investment rose from IDR47.14 trillion in 2024 to IDR73.56 trillion in 2025, representing a growth of 56.05%.
“Investment remains heavily concentrated in Bali and Jakarta, as well as in the amenities sector. Therefore, we are encouraging more evenly distributed investment across various destinations—including the 13 Priority and Regenerative Tourism Destinations and Tourism Special Economic Zones (SEZs)—while also expanding investment in tourist attractions,” Tourism Minister noted.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa revealed that domestic tourist trips in August 2026 reached 104.30 million, an increase of 11.47% compared to August of the previous year. Cumulatively, from January to August 2026, 842.15 million domestic tourist trips were recorded, marking a growth of 4.29%. “
“Tourism growth is also underpinned by domestic strength. This reinforces the role of domestic tourists as a key pillar of Indonesia’s tourism resilience. We want this growth to benefit an increasing number of regions. Therefore, we will continue to encourage the public to travel within Indonesia—under the #diIndonesiaAja campaign—while also broadening the distribution of tourist travel across various destinations,” said Ni Luh.
Meanwhile, outbound travel by Indonesian tourists declined by 6.02% in August 2026. Cumulatively, from January to August 2026, outbound travel fell by 3.56% to 5.91 million trips.
The surplus between foreign tourist arrivals and outbound trips by Indonesian tourists widened to 960,000 in August 2026, up from 820,000 in August 2025. Cumulatively, the surplus reached 4.67 million, surpassing the 3.91 million recorded during the same period the previous year.
“This is a positive sign. More global tourists are visiting Indonesia, and more of our own people are enjoying the wealth of destinations within the country,” Ni Luh concluded. [traveltext.id]
