Indonesia

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency has reported that the floodwaters have receded totally in Bali, and that 185 evacuees are now able to return back home. As of 12 Sep, 17 died and 5 are missing. The President has instructed the government to speed up flood recovery

The Tourism Minister has reported that tourist arrivals have not been impacted by Bali’s flooding, and that there have been no cancellations received, “in fact, they are fully booked. The situation is normal”. She noted that the island was open to tourists, but “of course, there are improvements that need to be made”

The Ministry of Tourism has reminded all tourist destination managers to prepare for potential disasters, including those triggered by extreme weather events, with risk assessments. The government will also prepare Technical Guidelines for the Implementation of Management for Tourism Destinations, to help with risk assessment frameworks

Indonesia’s Environment Minister attributed the worsening of flash flooding in Bali to “extraordinary piles of garbage clogging the drains”, pointing to land conversions from rice fields and green spaces to hotels, villas and cafes. Bali’s governor rejected the idea that land conversion was the direct root cause of the flooding, saying that those developments were in North Kuta (Badung) and Gianyar, calling it a “river flow issue”. Denpasar was the worst impacted by the flooding, with 81 locations, whilst Gianyar saw 14 locations, Badung 12, Tabanan 8, Karangasem 4, Jembrana 4 and Klungkung 1, with landslides in Karangasem, Gianyar and Badung

Indonesian Vice President urged efforts to address land conversion to be sped up in Bali to prevent future flooding, calling for the regional government to concentrate on water catchment areas, drainage and sanitation management

The Tourism Minister has cautioned tourists planning to visit Bali to be aware of weather conditions and stay informed of advisories

The Third Amendment Bill for the Tourism Law has been agreed to be brought to Level II discussions. Three points are in the draft Tourism Bill: improving the tourism ecosystem, improving the quality of human resources in tourism and tourism education and strengthening culture-based tourism

Heavy rains on 16-17 Sep caused heavy floods in Bali. 9 people were reported dead, 600 people were affected, including 200 people who have been evacuated following the flood. The spokesperson of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said 5 people were killed in Denpasar. Access to Bali airport was limited as only trucks were able to use the roads. The BNPB Chief also reported flooding in Nagekeo district in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara, which killed 4 people, while another 4 were reported missing. The monsoon season in Indonesia typically occurs between Nov-Apr, causing landslides, floods, and water-borne diseases

Immigration Task Force Officers will patrol Nusa Dua, Seminyak, Legian, and Canggu to check on the immigration status of the visitors. In Q1 2025, the Immigration reported a huge increase in immigration violations and offences, with a notable increase in Bali

Bank Indonesia’s (BI) monthly survey shows The consumer confidence index (CCI) dropped to 117.2 in Aug, vs 118.1 in Jul, the weakest since Sep 2022. BI spokesperson said the index is still above the 100-point threshold separating optimism from pessimism The current economic conditions index dropped to 105.1 in Aug, -1.5 points MoM The consumer expectations index recorded 129.2, -0.4% MoM Perceptions of current income and durable goods purchase recorded slightly above 100 The current job availability index dropped to 93.2 The Manpower Ministry recorded 42,000 layoffs in H1 2025, +32.1% YoY and more than half of the 80,000 recorded in 2024. Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data shows that the GDP expanded 5.12% YoY in Q2 2025, supported by household spending, which recorded a 4.97% YoY growth

Denpasar, Bali, declared an emergency status to allow authorities to optimise disaster response following flooding in several parts of the city. The Denpasar government has established a disaster response centre at the mayor’s office, integrated with response centres at the sub-district and village levels, and Denpasar Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) will work with the provincial BPBD

The Tourism Ministry promoted premium tourism products during the Wonderful Indonesia Business Matching event in Seoul, South Korea, on 8 Sep. Indonesia promoted honeymoon destinations such as Bali, Sumba, and Labuan Bajo, as well as adventure tourism such as Raja Ampat, Wakatobi, Labuan Bajo, Morotai, and Manado-Likupang. The Tourism Minister highlighted growing golf tourism in Batam, Bintan, Bali, and Jakarta. Indonesia also promoted wellness tourism, such as spas, traditional massages, and holistic healing practices in Ubud and Yogyakarta. 14 stakeholders, such as travel operators and agents, airlines, tourism management companies, and hotel managers, showcased their products at the event. The event is projected to attract up to 5,250 international tourists and generate up to $7.266 million USD in foreign exchange earnings

The Tourism Minister invited South Korean investors to invest in wellness tourism in Indonesia. The Global Wellness Institute estimated the global value of the industry will reach $6.32 trillion USD by 2023 and will reach $10 trillion USD by 2029. The institute ranked Indonesia at 6th in the Asia Pacific region for largest wellness economy, and ranked 3rd in terms of fastest growth. She added that 23% of tourists visiting Bali cite wellness as their main motivation for their visit, and besides Bali, other destinations like Yogyakarta, Solo, and Sumba are emerging as wellness tourism hubs

The new Finance Minister said 8% economic growth is “not impossible” and he will find ways to boost the economy

The President announced a reshuffle involving the Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers, the Ministry of Cooperatives and SMEs, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati was replaced by Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa

The Toba Caldera Geopark has retained its “green card” status and will continue as the UNESCO Global Geopark Network (UGGp) for the next four years. The announcement was made during the 11th Executive Committee Meeting of the Global Geopark Network Conference in Kutralkura, La Araucania, Chile

The Provincial Government of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) will prepare an alternative route for the 2025 Tour de Entete as Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores continues to erupt. The Governor said they will take precautionary measures in several Flores Islands, including Sikka, Ende, and Ngada, which face landslide risks. He added that the race will cover all 10 planned stages despite the risk of natural disasters. The race will be held from 10-21 Sep

Mt Rinjani has reopened for climbers, with stricter SOPs: All climbers must now have a health certificate and insurance information Those below 17 or with no previous climbing experience must be accompanied by a certified guide One guide is permitted for every 5 climbers, and porters for every 2-3 climbers All visitors must attend a safety briefing before the start of their trek A rescue post has been set up in Pelawangan, equipped with ropes and emergency equipment All bookings must be made via the official app of the park

JHL Collection introduced its expansion plans under its “5teps to the Future” strategy. The company manages 7 properties, including 6 in Indonesia and 1 in Cambodia. The portfolio in Indonesia includes JHL Solitaire Gading Serpong, Episode Gading Serpong, and Herloom Hotel & Residence BSD in Banten, as well as Episode Kuta Bali and JSI Resort Megamendung in West Java. JHL will launch two new hotel brands in 2025, Noema and Arjuna, with properties in Bali and Cambodia. JHL also plans to expand to Lombok and other parts of Indonesia and the region. JHL will launch a wellness program at Kencana Valley, Megamendung, as part of its Steps of Mindfulness initiative. Executive Director of JHL said they target to open 10 properties within two years, either newly built or rebranded

Agoda released its list of most popular rural destinations in Asia. Cameron Highlands in Malaysia ranked first, followed by Khao Yai National Park (Thailand) in 2nd place, Puncak (Indonesia) in 3rd place, and Sapa (Vietnam) in 6th place

The Ministry of Forestry will compile a national list of endangered species over the next 5 years as part of its conservation program and in line with the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN). The list will be modelled after the IUCN Red List

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) announced there have been 10 deaths recorded during the nationwide protests, while 20 were reported missing, and 500 were injured

Kuta Traditional Village organised the Kuta Culture Weekend event series on 31 Aug. This event will be held on the last Sunday of every month. The first event received positive feedback from tourists and the community. The Coordinator of the Kuta Traditional Village Arts Team said this event is a reimagined version of a popular one-day festival, which was organised every week at the end of 2024. However, the festival had to be postponed due to bad weather. After some evaluation, they have decided to organise the event monthly once under the “Kuta Culture Weekend” tagline. The event is free for the visitors, but the team is looking to turn this into a ticketed event to help them offer more activities

Indonesia is targeting 800,000 Indian travellers in 2025. The Ministry of Tourism held B2B matching sessions in Kolkata and Bengaluru prior to attending ITB India, and noted that Indian arrivals was one of the fastest growing markets for Indonesia

Batam called on the Immigration and Corrections Ministry to offer visa-free entry to tourists from China, South Korea, Japan, and India, as part of an effort to revive the tourism industry in Batam to pre-pandemic levels. The current visa-on-arrival (VoA) policy costs 500,000 IDR for 30 days, with a one-time extension priced at 500,000 IDR. Batam recorded 1.3 million foreign tourists in 2024 vs 1.9 million in the pre-pandemic period. The top source markets to Batam are Singapore, Malaysia, China, and India

West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) Governor assured that the province is safe and stable for tourists and investors, despite travel warnings issued by Embassies of several countries

The United Nations called for investigations into the alleged use of unnecessary force by security forces, after at least 6 people were killed during the protests

Home Affairs Minister ordered regional heads and regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) members to delay overseas trips to focus on the situation in their respective regions. The officials usually need to get approvals from the Ministry before their overseas visit, but for the time being, the permits will not be issued

Bali assured tourists that the province is a safe and welcoming destination amid protests all over Indonesia. Some embassies had issued a travel advisory following the protests in Indonesia. The Chairman of the Indonesian Travel Agencies Association (ASITA) said Bali is safe to visit, and they did not record any surge in booking cancellations. The Bali Regional Police arrested 158 protestors, including 3 who attacked the Bali Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) Office in Denpasar. 155 protestors were released, and those who committed violence are still being held

Indonesia recorded 1.48 million foreign tourists in Jul 2025, +4.62% MoM and +13.01% YoY, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS). From Jan-Jul 2025, 8.53 million foreign tourists visited Indonesia, +10.04% YoY, but it is still below pre-pandemic levels of 9.18 million visits. Air travel accounts for 84.5% of total arrivals, followed by 12.43% via sea, and 3.07% via land. The top countries in Jul are Malaysia, with 14.32% of the share, followed by Australians (11.69%), Chinese (9.76%), and Singaporeans (7.71%). Domestic tourists recorded a -4.68% MoM drop but still a +29.72% YoY. A large number of visitors entered Indonesia through Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, with Australians dominating the arrivals, fueled by the winter school vacation in Australia

Singaporeans visiting Batam, Bali, Jakarta, and Surabaya must use the All Indonesia app to complete the arrival declaration, 3 days before their arrival. The app integrates the immigration, Customs, health and quarantine arrival forms in one platform

Jakarta was calm after a week of protests following a heavy security presence in the city. The protests injured at least 468 people, of whom 97 were hospitalised, whilst over 1,200 people were arrested in Jakarta. The President ordered the military and police to take strong action against “rioters and looters”. The Populist National Association of University Student Executive Bodies (BEM SI Kerakyatan), part of the Indonesian University Students Alliance (AMI), has postponed the planned protest due to worsening conditions in Jakarta and heightened security. Despite the postponement, several student groups still protested, calling for passage of the asset forfeiture bill to curb corruption and police reform measures. Universities and civil society groups called for a peaceful protest and asked the public to avoid rioting during the protest

Agoda revealed that Thailand ranked second as the top searched destination for food and drink activities in Asia, only behind Japan, based on search date from Jun-Jul. Vietnam ranked third, followed by Indonesia and Malaysia

Residents of Pari Island are seeking compensation from Holcim, a cement company based in Switzerland. Representatives of Pari Island travelled to Switzerland to take part in the preliminary hearing of the case. The environmentalists said that cement production is responsible for 8% of global CO2 emissions, and Holcim is reportedly among the 100 largest CO2 emitters worldwide. The environmentalists claim, Pari Island, with a 42-hectare land area, could be underwater by 2050 due to rising sea levels. The four plaintiffs are seeking 3,600 Swiss francs each from Holcim for the damages and protection measures. Swiss Church Aid (HEKS), an NGO helping the residents, said the amount is equivalent to 0.42% of the actual costs, reflecting the estimates of Holcim’s share of 0.42% of global industrial CO2 emissions since 1750. The plaintiffs are also demanding a 43% reduction in Holcim’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a 69% reduction by 2040, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to the pre-industrial era

The Astindo Travel Fair and the soft opening of the Nusantara International Convention and Exhibition (NICE) were held as planned during the weekend despite protests all over Jakarta. Astindo President announced the fair recorded high visitors, especially during cash-back sessions. Panorama Destination’s Director of Business Development said they did not receive any emergency requests from the guests to leave the country early. He added they have 47 Java-Bali overland trips scheduled for September. The opening event for NICE, Ionation-Workout and Wellness Festival, recorded 7,300 participants, out of the 9,000 targeted

Jakarta Metropolitan Police arrested around 1,240 individuals involved in violence during the protest in Jakarta from 25-29 Aug. The Chief Inspector General said they have identified those involved in vandalism and looting, and they will take steps to arrest them. The infrastructure losses reached 55 billion IDR from the post-demostration

Local reports are talking of looting at the homes of several members of parliament, although they are not independently verified

President Prabowo has cancelled his China trip in light of the protests across Indonesia

President Prabowo stated that parliament will “revoke a number of parliament policies, including the size of allowances for members of parliament and a moratorium on overseas work trips”

3 people were killed by a fire started by protesters in Makassar at a council building, whilst the provincial council buildings were also set on fire. Hundreds of students and ridesharing motorcycle drivers also protested in front of the police headquarters in Bali, Lombok’s Mataram saw protesters storm a council building and set it on fire, and hundreds also rallied in Surabaya in front of the East Java headquarters

TikTok’s live feature has been “voluntarily” suspended for the “next few days“ in Indonesia after protests

The Ministry of Culture named Penglipuran Village in Bangli District, Bali, as a model for cultural preservation and said the village can be an inspiration for other regions to preserve and promote their cultural heritage

Jakarta waives fares for public transport such as Transjakarta and Jakarta MRT as it begins to conduct repair work on facilities damaged during protests on 29 Aug. The public transport service in Jakarta is gradually recovering after being disrupted during the protest

The police fired tear gas at protestors in Jakarta, whose protests were intensified after a Gojek driver died after being hit by a police armoured vehicle during protests on 28 Aug. Protests had been gathering since 25 Aug, after the news that Members of Parliament would see increased allowances

VFS Global signed a co-branding agreement with the Tourism Ministry to promote brand awareness of the tourism sector in Indonesia under the Wonderful Indonesia campaign. VFS Global will conduct tourism marketing through brand partnerships

The Tourism Minister said the Wonderful Indonesia Awards (WIA) was created to address challenges in the tourism industry. WIA will cover aspects like quality, sustainability, and collaboration. 2025 WIA will consist of 10 award categories, such as; 1. Best Tourism Village Award 2. Best Tourist Attraction Award 3. Best Tourism Awareness Group Award 4. Clean Toilet Award at Tourist Attraction 5. Green Hotel Award 6. Most Inspiring Tourism Leader 7. Local Heroes of Tourism 8. Key Figures in the Event Industry ​​​​​​​9. Green Event of the Year ​​​​​​​10. Most Collaborative Partners

The Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions asked the alumni of the Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education Non-State Apparatus Services Program (PANA-LPDP) to help with the development of ecosystem-based tourism in rural areas. The Director General for Disadvantaged Regions Development under the ministry said this will promote an integrated and sustainable development of village tourism. 24 alumni, including 3 from foreign institutions, will serve in 4 villages located in Sumba Barat Daya District, East Nusa Tenggara: Karuni, Watu Kawula, Maliti Bondoate, and Pero Konda for 6 months. This program will help to build alumni’s understanding of development challenges in rural areas while promoting sustainable tourism

Mount Rinjani’s UNESCO Global Geopark status will be re-evaluated during a session in Sep in Chile. The evaluation will be made based on first-hand assessment conducted by UNESCO’s team in Lombok Island, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). The results from evaluation will be announced in Apr 2026

The Forestry Minister announced that they will tighten the quota system for tourists visiting Padar Island in Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara, to maintain sustainable ecotourism activities. The government will install fences and signboards for the safety and conservation measures on Padar Island

The Pacu Jalur event in Riau recorded 1.6 million visitors, +30% YoY, following viral video and trend on social media. The event recorded 165.1 billion IDR of economic circulation in the Kuantan Singigi Regency

The Deputy Minister of Tourism said they will support the development and promotion of the Sandeq Silumba 2026 event – which will be held in the West Sulawesi Provincial Government – both domestically and internationally. The traditional sailing boat event in 2025 took place from 20-26 Aug

Batam could benefit from Singapore’s restriction on vaping.Batam Tourism Agency Head said the public would look for alternative ways to enjoy banned activities in Singapore. He added that they could choose Batam for that as long as it does not violate local regulations. He said the previous closure of public golf courses in Singapore made golfers choose Batam. He added that many Singaporean teams are choosing Batam for sports like badminton, basketball, and pickleball. Singapore closed an 18-hole golf course at Marina Bay in 2024. Singapore will close 10 more golf courses from 2026-2030. In H1 2025, 738,186 tourists visited Batam, including 433,564 Singaporeans, and 220,533 Malaysian tourists. However, the Indonesian Vaper Association (AVI) Batam branch Spokesman said, the restriction for vape in Singapore started in 2014. He added only 5% of Singaporeans visit popular tourist spots in Batam such as Nagoya and Jodoh to purchase vapes

The Hospitality industry raised concerns over the enforcement of music royalties by the National Collective Management Agency (LMKN). The hotels said they accept the principle of paying royalties, but they are concerned with the interpretation and enforcement of the law. The Indonesian Hotel General Managers Association (IHGMA) said the law classifies sounds from guestroom television, natural soundscapes, and even religious recitations such as Islamic murotal or adzan as commercial performances which require royalty fees. The hoteliers argue that guest rooms are private spaces. IHGMA’s Head of Legal Affairs said LMKN, the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, and industry players all interpret the rules differently. The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) and IHGMA asked LMKN and the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI) of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights to host a dialogue session, and want a better definition of commercial use and monitoring systems to ensure the royalties apply only to registered works

The Indonesian Event Industry Council (IVENDO) will focus on creating proprietary event intellectual properties (IP) and increasing workforce certification programs to improve the events sector. IVENDO chairman said IP-driven strategy will allow IVENDO better control over event content, reduce reliance on government-backed opportunities, and expand into other international markets. IVENDO will pilot event concepts which combine local cultural insights. IVENDO also will organise focu group discussions within regional chapters to identify events which can be scaled commercially and licensed internationally. IVENDO will offer 500 free certification in event planning, logistics, marketing communications, and management roles

A protest erupted in Indonesia over the increase in the monthly allowance for Members of Parliament worth 50 million IDR per person – 10X of the minimum wage in Jakarta – during economic uncertainty and the government’s austerity measures

A popular trend called ‘aura farming’ on social media has become a pull factor for the ‘Pacu Jalur’ race in Riau. An additional 100,000 spectators is expected to visit the race in 2025, after a video of an 11-year-old boy dancing during the race went viral. In 2024, the event welcomed 1.4 million visitors, with more than $2.5 million to the local economy. This year's event is expected to welcome 1.5 million visitors with revenue expected to reach $4.6 million USD. 220 teams representing local villages or districts took part in 2025’s event. The teams were competing for combined prizes of 900 million IDR

The Tourism Minister said Kelurahan Desa Merah Putih (KDMP) or the Village Cooperative can help with regional tourism by integrating the local tourism ecosystem. Through the KDMP platform, the MSMEs can sell their products to tourists. The KDMP was inaugurated on 21 Jul to offer benefits to the community of Tamanmartani Tourism Village, one of the 3 national pilot villages for the KDMP program. The tourism village promotes educational tourism, which helps the tourists to learn about animal husbandry, gardening, and farming

A Travelbag research of 1,000 UK travellers ranked Bali as 7th (chosen by 21%) and Thailand as 10th (19%) most popular long-haul bucket list destination worldwide, and 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in Asia

Due to a lack of sponsors, including from State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and interest from concertgoers, at least 2 major music festivals have cancelled their 2025 editions. We The Fest announced they will return in 2026 in Apr after hosting the event every summer since 2014, except in 2022 due to the pandemic. Joyland, which was scheduled for 28-30 Nov, was cancelled on 11 Aug despite already starting the ticket sales to avoid compromising the event quality. Joyland Program Director said many local festivals in Indonesia have not got traction similar to events such as Fuji Rock in Japan and Clockenflap in Hong Kong. He said there is a shift in the festival landscape in Indonesia. A music business expert said the music festival business in Indonesia is facing market recalibration, moving from post-pandemic boom to a rationalisation and efficiency phase. He added that corporate sponsors, especially SOEs, have reallocated budgets for government priority programs. He added that “sponsorship often makes up 40%–60% of a festival’s revenue structure”, and with a drop in commitment, the promoters will have to increase ticket prices. The President asked the SOEs to contribute $50 billion USD annually, compared to $5.3 billion recorded in 2024 during the 2026 draft state budget presentation

The Head of the Bangli Regency Tourism and Culture Office announced that tourists will be issued e-tickets with official Bangli Regency Tourism Office branding as proof of payment when visiting Kintamani, to make the payment more formalised. International tourists need to make a 50,000 IDR payment and a 30,000 IDR payment for children

The Tourism Ministry will host a Wonderful Indonesia business matching event at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on 8 Sep. 20 tourism companies such as Komaneka Resort, Tugu Hotel & Restaurant, Seven Secret Resorts, Tana Gaja by Hardyprana, Komodo Resort & Diving Club, Kendasa Resort Lombok, FaradaIsila Bali from the accommodation sector; Garuda Indonesia from the aviation sector; Bintan Resort Zakrawala, Bali Tour & Travel, Nusa Dua Bali Tour-Bancar Discovery, Metro Mandala Wisata, and Sasak Tour from travel agency category; and Bounty Cruise, Kanna Bali, Ingeny Destination Management from tourist attractions and leisure will take part in this event. There will be a B2B session with Korean tourism companies at the event

The Vice President and the Tourism Minister are expected to attend the 2025 Pacu Jalur Festival in Riau Province from 20-24 Aug. Pacu Jalur is one of the 110 flagship events organised under the Tourism Ministry’s Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN). In 2024, the event welcomed 1.4 million visitors with an economic turnover of 42.16 billion IDR

Plataran Indonesia plans to open new dining and wellness venues. The company launched a dining venue in Makassar, South Sulawesi, with event facilities for up to 1,000 people. Plataran organised a run, yoga session, and a concert under the Plataran Intimate Concert Series as part of the opening ceremony of the dining venue. Plataran will launch a new program focusing on Puncak as a weekend travel from Jakarta, called the “Plataran Wellness-Reconnect with Yourself”, in Sep and will offer packages which include detoxification, plant-based diets, exercise, and a walking tour in the Gunung Mas tea plantation. Plataran will offer a traffic assistant service, even providing a motorcycle escort to Puncak Resort for guests facing unexpected congestion to help them reach the hotel from Jakarta in 90 minutes

Indonesia and China launched a pilot program to connect their QR code-based payment systems on 17 Aug, aiming to boost trade and tourism. This trial will involve the Indonesian Payment System Association (ASPI), UnionPay International, and other local payment providers. 4 ASPI members, Rintis Sejahtera, Alto Network, Artajasa, and Jalin, will work with UnionPay on the trial. Bank Indonesia’s Quick Response Indonesian Standard (QRIS) recorded 6.1 billion transactions in Q2 2025 with 57 million users

Indonesia and Timor Leste will extend operating hours at 4 land border checkpoints from 12 Aug. The checkpoints will be extended by one hour until 5PM local time on the Indonesian side and 6PM local time on the Timor Leste side. The checkpoints involved in these changes are Batugade–Mota Ain in Belu District, Salele–Motamasin in Malaka, Sakato-Wini in Timor Tengah Utara (TTU), and Oesilo–Napan in Kupang District

Indonesia recorded 7.05 million foreign tourists in H1 2025, +9.44% YoY, with ASEAN countries dominating the top source market, followed by other countries in Asia and Europe. The Tourism Minister highlighted the 3.54 percentage point drop in star-rated hotel occupancy on a YoY basis in H1 2025. The minister said this drop is not due to weakening interest in tourism but due to a shift in tourist interest to alternative accommodations and an increase in room availability. The number of occupied rooms in H1 2025 recorded a +11.53% vs H1 2024

The Tourism Ministry is promoting domestic travel to Indonesians with its #DiIndonesiaAja (Just in Indonesia) campaign. The campaign was featured at the Unity Carnival 2025, to commemorate Indonesia’s 80th Independence Day

Bali’s Governor said he rejected an offer to open a casino in Bali. Although gambling is illegal in Indonesia, many international investors have submitted proposals for a casino under certain conditions. He added, “Bali’s future is at stake in our culture-based tourism in Bali”. Despite the proposed casino’s projected revenue of 100 trillion IDR, they will firmly reject the casino plans in Bali. The governor said, “If we take a wrong step, we could lose more than IDR 100 trillion and threaten Bali’s future”. Bali also rejected a racing track circuit proposal in Bali similar to Lombok’s track due to a lack of space and to preserve community interest in Bali

The Indonesia Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) reported that hotel revenue dropped between 30% and 40% in H1 2025. Visitors to Ancol Dreamland (Dunia Fantasi), the largest theme park in Jakarta, reported a drop of 15%. Other businesses, such as airlines, spas, and other leisure services, reported weaker sales due to lower domestic spending and tighter government budgets. GIPI Chairman said that the industry is facing challenges from unlicensed operators – such as illegal villas and unlicensed travel agencies – tour restrictions, and inaccurate enforcement policies. He added a recent operation on illegal villas in Puncak, West Java, also implicated fully licensed businesses, including Eiger Adventure Land eco-tourism project and several registered hotels, over environmental violations allegations. He added that this incident can cause uncertainty for the investors as the business has gone through the licensing process, and new questions over environmental or zoning requirements can be disruptive. GIPI will organise events to address tourism challenges in Indonesia, including: The second edition of the Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair (WITF) in Jakarta, from 9-12 Oct, features a consumer show alongside a B2B session. The event will connect 200-250 international buyers with 250-300 sellers The Discovering the Magnificence of Indonesia (DMI) exhibition in Amsterdam from 30 Oct-2 Nov The Nusantara Train program for adventure travellers with curated trekking, cycling, and nature itineraries in Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi The GIPI Cup youth football tournament, to stimulate family travel. The event will rotate among secondary cities GIPI is looking at B2B opportunities with credit card issuers, bundled with promotions to boost sales of hotels and tour packages GIPI will work with AirAsia to promote the Bangkok–Kuala Lumpur–Yogyakarta route, and explore the Bangkok-Kertajati and Kuala Lumpur-Semarang route