Indonesia

Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) of Bali warned it will revoke the conservation centres’ permits if they fail to comply with regulations and stop elephant riding programs. BKSDA Bali’s Head said there are 13 conservation centres as of 2025, including 5 which manage 83 Sumatran elephants. The Directorate General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation of the Ministry of Forestry issued a warning on 18 Dec 2025 to ban elephant riding activities at conservation centres. He added that conservation centres must prioritise animal welfare at all times

Indonesian ride-hailing drivers set to receive better financial and social benefits under a Presidential decree. The decree will cut the caps on commissions the ride-hailing companies collect from the drivers from 20% to 10%. This ruling could limit the platforms’ profit margin. The e-hailing platforms would also have to pay for drivers’ accident and death insurance in full, which could cost the companies about $1 USD per month for each of their drivers

The Finance Minister is confident that the Indonesian rupiah (IDR) will strengthen within 2 weeks. He also added that Indonesia’s economy could expand by 6% in 2026

The Central Bank will keep intervening in the foreign exchange markets to defend the depreciating rupiah (IDR). IDR dropped to 16,865 IDR against USD on 14 Jan

The Vice President chaired the 2026 National Coordination Meeting on Tourism. The Tourism Minister, during the meeting, said that the tourism industry is expected to contribute 4.9% of GDP in 2026. The government recorded several key tourism indicators exceeding its targets, including growth in international and domestic tourists, increased foreign exchange spending, and employment

Indonesia recorded 1.2 million tourist arrivals in Nov 2025, and 13.98 million tourists from Jan-Nov 2025, +10.44% YoY. The top 5 source markets are Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, China, and Timor-Leste, contributing to 56% of total international arrivals. The top 5 entry points are I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, Soekarno–Hatta Airport in Jakarta, Juanda Airport in Surabaya, Kualanamu Airport in Medan, and Yogyakarta International Airport. The domestic trips from Jan-Nov 2025 reached 1.09 billion, surpassing Indonesia's 2025 target of 1.08 billion trips. From 18 Dec 2025 to 4 Jan 2026, in conjunction with the Christmas and New Year period, the Ministry of Transportation recorded 11.81 million visitors in 10 Priority Tourism Destinations and 3 Regenerative Destinations, +10.95% YoY. The Tourism Minister said the Ministry will focus beyond managing short-term momentum, to consistently promoting long-term strategic programs to improve the quality of the tourist experience, increasing spending, and make the country as a high-value destination

Indonesia targets $22-$24.7 billion USD in tourism receipts in 2026, contributing 4.5%-4.7% to the GDP. In Q3 2025, the tourism sector contributed 3.96% to the GDP, with $13.82 billion USD in foreign exchange. Indonesia recorded 13.98 million international visitors from Jan-Nov 2025. Indonesia targets 16.0-17.6 million arrivals in 2026. The average spending per visitor is $1,259 USD. The top source markets are Malaysia (17.3%), Australia (11.3%), Singapore (10.5%), and China (8.8%)

The Tourism Minister has asked the travel companies to develop high-value and niche itineraries to meet the travel demand. The Ministry has launched several travel guides to support the product development, such as Wisata Rasa Bumi Pasundan, Indonesia Gourmet Guide, Wellness Journey Across the Java Wonders, and the Wonderful Indonesia Diving Directory. The Tourism Minister said Indonesia should not just focus on the number of visitors, but Indonesia should also improve the quality of experience for the tourists to ensure the industry remains sustainable for generations. The Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) celebrated its 55th anniversary and signed an MoU with Messe Berlin (Singapore) to collaborate for Travel Meet Asia 2026

The Bali Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued a weather forecast of high rainfall across Bali from 13-20 Jan. BMKG is expected to record over 300mm of rainfall in the next 10 days in Kuta. Other parts of Bali with high rainfall alerts are the Mengwi District, Tabanan Regency, Ubud, Sidemen, and Kintamani. High sea wave warnings were also issued until 16 Jan, with an average wave height of 2.5m. Tourists travelling by fast boat and ferry, and those involved in marine activities, are encouraged to check with their operators before travel

Indonesia is closing all Mount Rinjani hiking trails in Q1 2026 for the safety of climbers and environmental preservation. The rainy season in early 2026 poses risks such as slippery paths, thick fog, and overflowing waterways. The routes affected in this closure are Senaru, Torean, Sembalun, Timbanuh, Tetebatu, and the Aik Berik trails. The authorities will carry out trail repairs, facility maintenance, and climbing management review during the closure period

The President expressed commitment to the $32 billion USD project to build the Nusantara capital city project. The President approved 48.8 trillion IDR of funds for the project until 2029, only around 60% of what the previous administration spent between 2022 and 2024

Preliminary data from Bank Indonesia (BI) shows that the retail sales index (RSI) is projected to have reached 231.7 points in Dec 2025, +4.4% YoY, attributed to increased demand for the Christmas and New Year holiday period. Sales of food and beverages are expected to have recorded a 8.2% YoY growth in Dec 2025. However, the consumer confidence index (CCI) remained low in Dec 2025, at 123.5 points vs 124 points in Nov 2025

Bali recorded 7.1 million international arrivals in 2025. The previous record was 6.27 million international arrivals, in 2019. 7,050,000 international arrivals arrived to Bali via air. It did see a decrease in domestic arrivals, making total arrivals reaching 16.38 million in 2025 vs 16.4 million in 2024

In 2025, museums and cultural heritage sites under the Ministry of Culture received 4.32 million visitors. There are 516 museums in Indonesia registered by the ministry

State-owned Pelindo, which oversees ports and harbours, confirmed that 65 cruise ships docked in Benoa Harbour, Bali in 2025, bringing over 140,000 tourists and crew. In 2024, Benoa recorded 56 cruise ships with 107,000 passengers and crew. In 2026, Benoa Port, also known as the Bali Maritime Tourism Hub, is expected to welcome 73 luxury cruise liners in 2026. It already received the first cruise ship with 3,431 passengers and 1,542 crew to Bali

The Tourism Ministry supported 99 Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) events, 46 national-scale events, 29 international events, and 24 MICE events in 2025 through its Event by Indonesia platform. Through these events, Indonesia recorded 12.2 million visitors and involved 20,800 MSMEs and over 250,000 workers. Indonesia generated an estimated 23.76 trillion IDR in economic turnover through these events

Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) shows that Riau Islands recorded 1.79 million international visitors from Jan-Nov 2025, exceeding the 1.76 million target. The total arrivals is expected to exceed 2 million following the Christmas and New Year holidays, which coincided with school holidays. The top tourist arrivals are from Singapore (49%), Malaysia (22%), China (4%), India (2%), and the Philippines (1%). Occupancy rate of star-rated hotels in Riau Islands dropped by 7 points to 50%, while the average stay for visitors at star-rated hotels in Riau Islands increased to 1.94 nights, +0.08 points

The Tourism Ministry has urged the tourism players to strictly enforce health and safety protocols to stop the spread of influenza A (H3N2), also known as the “super flu”. The Ministry asked everyone to follow CHSE standards – cleanliness, health, safety, and environmental sustainability – for prevention. Bali Airport has reactivated 25 thermal scanners, which were initially installed during the pandemic. 62 cases were confirmed across 8 Indonesian provinces as of Dec 2025

Tourism activities in Jatiluwih Rice Terraces in Tabanan Regency can now resume without any issues, after the protest by farmers has been resolved. The Regent of Tabanan met with the farmers and building owners, and agreed to incorporate their solutions in the future policies on spatial planning, land management, and business development. He added that he disagreed with adding permanent buildings in the middle of rice paddies. He noted tourist visits to Jatiluwih dropped by 80%

A Saudi tourist was killed, and another Indonesian tourist is in critical condition after a jet ski accident in Pelabuhanratu, in Sukabumi regency, West Java, on 5 Jan. This incident occurred less than 2 weeks after two Spanish tourists were killed and 2 went missing near the Padar Island Strait, East Nusa Tenggara. The Deputy Chair of the House of Representatives Commission VII overseeing tourism called for an overhaul of Indonesia’s tourism safety and security standards. He added, “Repeated accidents at tourist destinations show that safety has not yet become a top policy priority”

16 people killed and 18 injured in a flash flood on Siau Islands, North Sulawesi. 682 residents have been displaced by the floods

Khiri Travel has received the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification across all destinations where it operates – Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Sri Lanka

The National Museum of Indonesia increased its ticket prices to strengthen visitor services and preserve the collections. The fee for adult visitors will increase from 25,000 IDR to 50,000 IDR

Bali Governor will call Airbnb and other major Online Travel Agents (OTA) over their perceived failure to pay taxes to Bali. The Investment Minister asked the Governor to draft a specific Regional Regulation on Airbnb’s operations, to align with a national regulation on unlicensed accommodations. The Tourism Minister, warned all unlicensed homestays and villas will be removed from OTA listing from 2026

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) reported the consumer price index (CPI) reached 2.92% in Dec 2025, vs 2.72% recorded in Nov 2025. This was the highest full-year figure since 2022. This increase is attributed to an increase in food components, which recorded 6.21% YoY. Prices in the food, beverages, and tobacco commodity recorded 4.58% YoY

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) will introduce stricter regulation on accommodation licensing, requiring all accommodation properties to have valid operating licences and business classifications by 31 Mar 2026. Accommodation that does not obtain the licences risks removal from OTA platforms. The ministry compiled data in Oct 2025 that showed more than 29,000 non-hotel accommodation listed for Bali with only 14,500 recorded in the national business registry, whilst in Jakarta, only 28% had valid licences. Formal notices have been issued to companies in Dec 2025 requesting guidance for merchant partners through its Online Single Submission (OSS) licensing system. It is also implementing support measures, including education programs, data verification exercises and coaching classes. The Bali Villa Association is calling for more detailed villa classifications in the OSS system, to ensure that accommodation operating under the “villa” category meets the standards. The MoT noted that unlicensed accommodation “creates multiple risks, from inaccurate government data to unfair competition and potential safety issues for guests”

The Finance Minister is confident that Indonesia’s economy can grow by 6% in 2026, exceeding the government’s current target of 5.4% outlined in the 2026 draft state budget. He added that the government is attracting foreign investors’ attention, especially from Singapore, to the existing investments in Indonesia

The Bali Provincial Government is considering introducing a new policy to screen foreign tourists in 2026, such as checking their savings over the last 3 months. The Bali Governor said this could become an indicator of quality tourism. The government will also review how long the tourists plan to stay and what kind of activities they plan to do in Bali. Bali welcomed 7.05 million visitors by air and 71,000 by sea, the highest arrivals in history for Bali

The Tourism Minister said they will prioritise improving tourism security in 2026, following the sinking of the KM Putri Sakinah in the waters off Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara. She said they will offer training, mentoring, and education to all tourism transportation and tourism businesses

Indonesia targets 16-17 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2026. The full-year target for 2025 was 15.3 million foreign tourists. The government is also targeting 1.1 billion domestic trips in 2026. The Deputy Tourism Minister said Indonesia wants to focus on offering quality tourism experience for foreign tourists. She added that experience-based tourism is important for tourism development. She also want to improve the quality and sustainability, with the focus on tourist villages, wellness tourism, and marine tourism

A boat accident in Labuan Bajo has triggered concern over poor maritime safety in Indonesia. The Director of the National Maritime Institute said the accidents involving tourist boats show poor enforcement and oversight by the authorities. A Spanish tourist was reported dead, while 3 are still missing from an accident on 26 Dec. The boat was carrying 11 people, including 6 members of a Spanish family, 4 crew, and 1 tour guide, when it capsized in rough weather in the Padar Island Strait, East Nusa Tenggara. The boat reportedly suffered an engine malfunction. On 29 Dec, another boat sank near the piers of Pelabuhan Marina Waterfront, Labuan Bajo, after the crew members fell asleep and no one pumped out water; no casualties were reported during the incident

Several cities and provinces in Indonesia, including Jakarta and Bali, did not feature a firework display for the New Year, to pay respect to the victims of floods and landslides in Sumatra. Over 1,100 deaths were reported, and 400,000 people are still displaced

Bali’s domestic tourist arrivals saw a drop in 2025, as Indonesians chose to visit other domestic destinations. Bali Governor said, domestic visitors are expected to reach 9.2 million in 2025, vs 10.1 million in 2024. From 1 Jan to 22 Dec, the domestic visitors only reached 9.1 million. He attributed this drop to reduced domestic flights due to some of the Garuda and Citilink aircraft being under maintenance. Nearly half of Citilink’s fleet is currently under maintenance, with only 6 out of 11 aircraft serving Bali in service. Garuda’s aircraft serving Bali dropped to 9 from 11. International tourists have reached 600,000 as of 26 Dec, and it is expected to reach 700,00 by the end of 2025. The total arrivals are expected to reach 7.05 million by the end of 2025. The Tourism Minister said the unfavourable weather conditions were the reason for a drop in domestic tourist arrivals, not due to Bali losing its popularity. She pointed out that Java destinations such as Yogyakarta saw an increase in arrivals. She added that there is only a 2% drop in domestic tourism arrivals. The Tourism Ministry reported Indonesia recorded 997.91 million domestic trips, from Jan-Oct 2025, +18.89% YoY, and it projected to reach 1.21 billion by the end of 2025, surpassing 722 million trips recorded in 2019. Foreign tourist arrivals are projected to reach 15.31 million by the end of 2025; however, it’s lower than pre-pandemic levels of 16.1 million

PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC) reported 750 to 1,000 Malaysian tourists use the high-speed train between Jakarta and Bandung, as well as trains to other popular destinations in West Java. General Manager, Corporate Secretary of KCIC, said that Malaysian tourists are visiting natural attractions such as Lembang and Ciwidey. Since 28 Dec, KCIC has recorded 13,000 international passengers, with Malaysian tourists accounting for 53% or 7,000 passengers. From 2023 to 2025, Whoosh recorded 394,000 international passengers, with 294,000 from Malaysia. On 28 Dec, the ticket sales reached 16,000, with total ridership reaching 23,000. Total ticket sales reached 225,000 for the entire year-end holiday period. Daily average passengers have reached 22,000 to 24,000, a 20%-30% increase vs normal days with 16,000-18,000 passengers

The Tourism Minister expects the BINA (Belanja di Indonesia Aja) Indonesia Great Sale 2025 program to drive sales activity in the retail sector and boost economic growth. The sale ran from 18 Dec to 4 Jan, involving 400 shopping malls in 24 provinces. The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs said the government is targeting total public spending of up to 110 trillion IDR by the end of 2025

Padar and Komodo Islands in Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara, have been temporarily closed after a tourist boat carrying Spanish tourists capsized and adverse weather warnings were issued by the Labuan Bajo Harbormaster and Port Authority Office (KSOP)

Jakarta has reopened the Jakarta Planetarium and Observatory at the Ismail Marzuki Park complex after being closed for over 13 years due to infrastructure and management issues. Students will get free entries for 3 months

Jakarta has set a minimum wage for 2026 at 5.73 million IDR, +6.17% YoY. The new minimum wage will be in effect from 1 Jan

The number of visitors has started to drop at Jatiluwih Rice Terraces in Tabanan Regency following protests by the farmers against the government’s order to demolish 13 buildings constructed within the area. Local farmers said the buildings are simple farm buildings, and they fear that if they remove them, it could lead to bigger developments in the future. The authorities issued warning letters to the land owners, saying the buildings have violated spatial planning regulations. The farmers installed metal sheets to obscure the view of the terrace for the tourists as a protest. The Regent of Tabanan announced that the government will implement a new zero-tax policy on rice fields from 2026, to help the Jatiluwih subak farmers. The Operations Manager of Jatiluwih Rice Terraces reported about an 80% drop in visitors and confirmed the tour groups are cancelling their visit over the fear of protests. Several travel agents, especially from Europe, said they have stopped selling Jatiluwih. He added that the visitors have dropped to 120-150 from 700-1,000 visitors during the low season. The Jatiluwih Tourism Attraction hopes the government and village will work together to find solutions to this issue

Suwung TPA, the biggest open landfill in Bali, which was initially set to close on 23 Dec, has been granted an extension on the closure date until 28 Feb 2026. The Ministry of the Environment granted the extension following requests from the Denpasar Mayor and Badung Regency. The landfill, which was opened in 1984, has been receiving 1,000 tonnes of trash every day. Due to the large volume of waste, it can’t process the trash through alternative waste disposal systems (TEBA), TPS3R (Recycling and Recycling), TPST (Recycling and Recycling), shredding and decomposer machines, and source-based waste management systems. Bali Governor said the Denpasar Mayor and Badung Regent are committed to ensuring the closure of the Suwung Landfill by 28 Feb 2026, and no waste will be dumped by 1 Mar 2026. Independent garbage truck operators organised a protest calling for better solutions

Bintan recorded 13,000 Indian visitors from Jan-Nov 2025. Family holidays, leisure breaks, and wellness-focused escapes are the popular demand for Indian tourists. Bintan will engage with the Indian market through targeted partnerships, clearer storytelling, and experience-led product development. Bintan also focuses on MICE and destination weddings

The Ministries of Tourism and Sports signed an MoU to develop sports tourism and boost visitors. The MoU will cover human resource development, promotion of sports culture at tourist destinations, and marketing sports tourism through key events. Data shows that, in 2024, Indonesia recorded 18.79 trillion IDR in sport tourism, accounting for 25%-30% of the total national event tourism economy. The Tourism Minister highlighted the 2025 Pocari Sweat Run in Lombok, which recorded 9,000 participants, 70% from outside the island, generating an estimated 85.5 billion IDR

The Tourism Ministry has issued a new policy document called Archipelago Indonesia Emas 2045, to set guiding principles and priorities for tourism growth until 2045. The core objective will be to expand and diversify the national tourism product. The policy will place sustainability as a central pillar of the tourism strategy. This also prioritise on enhanced cooperation between the public and private sectors, by encouraging partnerships between the government, tourism businesses, and local communities

The Ministry of Transmigration is developing avocado agrotourism at the Tanjung Banun transmigration site, Batam, Riau Islands, to boost the local economy. The development will begin in 2026. 72 varieties of avocado can be planted in Tanjung Banun

The Ministry of Culture announced that it will allocate 11 billion IDR for the cleanup and restoration of cultural heritage sites in Sumatra damaged by floods and landslides. The Minister said local Cultural Preservation Offices (BPK) in each province are continuing to identify affected sites in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra, with over 100 sites has been identified. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported 1,090 deaths, with 186 people still missing as of 21 Dec