Indonesia

Bali Governor said the province is planning to stop Airbnb services as it did not contribute to Bali’s locally generated revenue (PAD). He mentioned this during the 15th Regional Conference of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali in Denpasar. He said that despite an increase in tourist arrivals, hotel occupancy rates are not showing an increase, especially in hotels with PHRI Bali. He also said that over 2,000 unlicensed hotels and villas needed to be regulated. PHRI Bali Chairman said they currently have 378 members, a small number compared to 16,000 accommodation units promoted online in Bali. He also pointed out several cases where the Airbnb units were operated by foreign citizens. In Oct, Bali welcomed 5.8 million tourists, +10.99% YoY. Bali has earned 15.3 trillion IDR in revenue YTD as of Oct, +9.58% YoY, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS), only reaching 71% of the total target of 21.5 trillion

The West Java administration launched a new plan to construct a railway line between Jakarta and Bandung, but the experts warn this could cut into the high-speed rail (HSR) service connecting the two cities. The West Java authorities and PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) signed an MoU on 25 Nov for this project. The fast train, called Kilat Pajajaran, from Gambir, Jakarta, to Bandung will only take 1 and a half hours. The project will cost 8 trillion IDR in investment from the local administration. The project is expected to begin in early 2026, and will connect Bandung to wider areas in West Java, including Banjar, Garut and Tasikmalaya, with a total travel time of 3 hours from Jakarta to Banjar. A transportation expert from the Indonesian Transportation Society (MTI) said this new project is not necessary as the Whoosh HSR is already serving this route

Deputy Environment Minister said that they are conducting an investigation on 8 companies in North Sumatra for environmental violations following the deadly floods and landslides. The Ministry will look into several factors, including land conditions, vegetation, natural contours, and compliance with licensing and environmental rules. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported that as of 3 Dec, the death toll in Sumatra had reached 770, with 463 still missing

The National Development Planning Minister called geoparks an asset for the future of the country, which can promote environmental and cultural literacy for future generations. Indonesia currently has 12 UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) out of 241 worldwide, and it is looking to increase the UGGp to 17 by 2029

Tourism players said tourism operations in West Sumatra are improving gradually after flooding and landslides cut off roads and stranded visitors in cities like Padang and Bukittinggi. North Sumatra remains largely unaffected. Chairman of the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA) West Sumatra said visitors who were trapped in Padang have returned home safely. Year-end bookings in West Sumatra is on track despite the recent flood. Chairman of ASITA North Sumatra said Lake Toba, Parapat, Samosir and Medan remained fully operational. He added that most Medan hotels in the city centre were not affected and operated with high occupancy from the residents who were looking to take temporary shelter

The Tourism Minister said Indonesia is projected to record 15.3 million foreign tourists in 2025, and it is expected to reach 16-17.6 million by 2026, and 23.5 million by 2029. Domestic trips are expected to reach 1.21 billion trips in 2025 and increase to 1.5 billion trips by 2029. She added that Indonesia was named as the New Destination Champion 2026 by the La Liste Awards in Paris, France. This highlights the development of Indonesian cuisine with a global recognition

People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker said the President has received a report on the causes of recent floods across Sumatra, including allegations of illegal timber logging. He added that illegal logging might have made the flood impact worse in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra. He said the weather conditions have improved, and repair works for the infrastructure are being made. The President announced that districts which are not accessible by road will receive aid via air transportation

The Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (ASTINDO) organised its first Muslim Friendly Travel Fair 2025 in Jakarta, featuring 16 travel agents, 3 National Tourism Organisations, 1 airline, and various Indonesian travel-related companies, together with BCA and BCA Syariah as the main banking partners with special promotions. ASTINDO President cited data from the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2024, which shows Muslim-friendly travel is no longer dominated by Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) countries, but non-OIC countries such as Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea, and Taiwan play an active role in attracting Muslim tourists by offering Muslim-friendly facilities. She added that even cruise operators are offering halal cruises

Indonesia expects 1.36 million international tourists (+10.72%) and 120 million domestic tourists (+19.34%) for Christmas and New Year 2026. The Tourism Ministry will offer transportation discounts for flight, train, and ferry tickets, and there will be 65 Christmas and New Year tour packages from 23 industry partners

Artotel Collection opened Myze Hotel Waingapu in East Sumba Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, its first in Eastern Indonesia. COO of Artotel Group said the location has tourism potential for millennial and Gen Z travellers, and for the Australian and Southeast Asian markets, as a new destination beyond Bali and Lombok. Artotel Group targets a 65% occupancy rate in 2026, with 40% from business events, and both domestic and international tourists contributing 30%. The 127-room hotel has the largest MICE facility in East Sumba, with a ballroom for 600 guests and 3 break-out rooms accommodating 100 guests

The death toll in North Sumatra, Aceh and West Sumatra from flooding and landslides reached at least 303, with 279 still missing. More than 126,000 have been displaced across the 3 provinces

Floods and landslides across three countries in Southeast Asia due to a rare tropical storm in the Malacca Strait have caused over 600 fatalities, including 435 dead in Indonesia, 170 in Thailand, and 3 in Malaysia. Over 4 million people have been affected, including nearly 3 million in Southern Thailand and 1.1 million in Western Indonesia

The death toll in Sumatra from flooding and landslides reached at least 174, with 80 still missing, with some areas where communication was still cut

The Minister of Tourism launched the MaiA artificial intelligence system (Meticulous Artificial Intelligence of Indonesia) as part of its Tourism 5.0 initiative. It will be on the indonesia.travel platform and is aiming to be a digital travel companion to help discover destinations and create itineraries

Samara Lombok will be Hyatt Hotels’ first Destination by Hyatt brand in Southeast Asia. This was part of the agreement plan between Hyatt Hotels and Lombok Torok Developments. Samara Lombok comprises 3 boutique hotels with 249 rooms and is set to open in 2028. Samara Lombok will have its own hospitality training school, where its graduates can work in Samara Lombok, and the co-founder said they aim to have 50% of hospitality staff from this school

The Chairman of the Indonesian Insurance Council has urged the government to make it compulsory for international tourists to purchase insurance before entering Indonesia. An economist at the University of Indonesia said that transport insurance recorded an 8.62% growth in Nov 2025, based on Statistics Indonesia

Jakarta has become the most populous city in the world, overtaking Tokyo. Nearly 42 million people are living in Jakarta, based on the United Nations' World Urbanisation Prospects 2025 report

Badung Regency in Bali has set a target for 6.5 million tourists in 2026. For 2025, it set a target of 6.3 million visitors, and data shows from Jan-Oct 2025, the regency has already recorded 6,077,000 visitors. The Head of the Badung Tourism Office said they want to create inclusive tourism, which offers benefits to the community. He highlighted the new Mekotek Tourism Village in Munggu Village as an example for community-based tourism and tourism villages to promote art, culture, and Balinese heritage. He added that the regency’s next step is to develop human resources in tourism and the creative economy

Landslides and flash floods in Sumatra, Indonesia, killed 10 people, and 6 people are still missing as of 26 Nov. In Central Tapanuli District in North Sumatra, nearly 2,000 houses and buildings are submerged due to flood

North Sumatra DMCs and tour operators are looking to expand offerings beyond Lake Toba, highlighting destinations such as Bukit Lawang and Tangkahan. The first ASTINDO Sumut Travel Exchange (ASTEX), which was held at Selecta Convention Hall, Medan, featured 72 local sellers and 117 domestic and international buyers for B2B business matching. A Director of Nurasa Tours said programs offering a 7-day, 8-night itinerary linking Lake Toba and Bukit Lawang have become more popular, with interest increasing 10%-20% YoY. CEO of Journey Plus, a Bangladesh buyer, said North Sumatra could become an alternative to Bali if it can package its offerings well

The Tourism Minister said that the country must increase shopping tourism promotions to ASEAN and other countries. Data shows Indian tourists are driving demand for shopping in Bali, especially among younger demographics and mothers. In conjunction with the festive season, the Tourism Ministry is launching the “Time For A Holiday #InIndonesiaAja” campaign to boost domestic tourism and increase international tourists’ spending. As part of the campaign, the Indonesia Great Sale 2025 will be held at major shopping malls and outlets, including in Bali, from 19 Dec to 4 Jan. 400 shopping malls in 24 provinces have signed up for this sale. Data shows that, on average, tourists spend $1,391 USD, with 11.4% spent on souvenirs, gifts, or retail experiences

The Ministry of Tourism supported a curated tour program for 128 high-spending French travellers taking part in “Around the World: Visages et Civilisations du Monde 2025”, which was held from 14-16 Nov. The tour shows a strong demand for cultural, experiential, and sustainable travel

East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) is looking to become a Chinese language hub for eastern Indonesia, including Papua and Maluku. The NTT Governor visited China to improve educational cooperation, focusing on Chinese language programs, scholarships, and academic exchanges

Indonesia and Saudi Arabia agreed to improve cooperation in the tourism sector, including in professional human resources. The Indonesian Tourism Minister said the cooperation will involve efforts to increase tourist arrivals and investment in tourism businesses. Indonesia and Saudi Arabia will make travel easier to allow more tourists to travel between the countries. She said both countries will organise joint tourism promotions and exhibitions to exchange information in the tourism sector. She added that the Saudi Government is looking for opportunities for professional workers from Indonesia to work in the tourism business sector in Saudi Arabia, as the country is developing mega tourism projects, including King Salman Park, which needs professional workers. In 2024, Indonesia welcomed 135,643 Saudi Arabian visitors, +25.96% YoY. From Jan-Sep 2025, Indonesia has received 113,685 Saudi visitors

Bali Governor ordered PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group to stop the construction work of the glass elevator project at Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, following violations against planning regulations. The project is being constructed in Bunga Mekar Village. The Government and Environmental Management Special Committee (TRAP) of the Regional Legislative Body (DPRD) of Bali found violations of spatial planning regulations, business licensing laws, coastal management law, and culture-based tourism standards

West Sumbawa in West Nusa Tenggara reaffirmed its commitment to support barapan kebo (buffalo racing), to preserve local tradition and promote tourism. West Sumbawa District Head said the Bentiu Batu Aden Circuit will help to organise community events, including barapan kebo events. The circuit was inaugurated in Oct 2025. The West Nusa Tenggara Tourism Office has set a target to attract 2.5 million domestic and international visitors to Lombok and Sumbawa in 2025

The Tourism Minister said that shopping is one of the key reasons for tourists to visit a country, and that Indonesia should promote shopping tourism to ASEAN countries and other destinations. The Ministry of Tourism’s Deputy for Promotion reported an uptick in shopping in Bali, especially from Indian tourists

The Tourism Ministry launched the "Indonesia Tourism Outlook 2025/2026" book during the Wonderful Indonesia Outlook 2025/2026 forum in Jakarta on 20 Nov. The book will serve as a guide for policymakers and industry players within the tourism sector. The book was a collaborative effort by the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of National Development Planning’s National Development Planning Agency, and Bank Indonesia. The book will offer an overview of the national and global tourism landscape, current tourism dynamics, and tourism development projections

Potato Head and British designer Max Lamb launched Collection 001 on 8 Aug, with the items sold online through the hotel group’s website and in selected shops. It is the first series in the Wasted collection, which transforms discarded materials into functional objects

Indonesian authorities evacuated over 1,000 people, including over 170 hikers, on 20 Nov following the eruption of Mount Semeru, East Java

The Bali Governor submitted a draft provincial regulation on beach and shoreline protection to the Bali Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) to ensure public access to Bali’s beaches, amid concerns that commercial development is limiting or blocking locals’ access to the shoreline, including for important religious ceremonies. The 2016 Presidential Regulation on shoreline boundaries states that beaches are public spaces, belong to the state, and cannot be privatised, but many beachside hotels and villas have often restricted access to non-customers

Bali Governor reiterated that the provincial government will be taking steps to prevent foreign investment capitalising on local businesses, noting a concern that a percentage of foreign investors are not only overtaking the market, but is also running illegal side businesses. The governor said Bali will implement stricter regulations on international investments to ensure only those with cultural respect in Bali are able to build businesses in the island. He added that Bali will also be reinforcing all tax compliance laws, especially on accommodation businesses

The InJourney Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) has partnered with PT Pengembangan Pariwisata Indonesia (Persero) and Kaliata to launch a one-month trial of an electric shuttle bus service across The Nusa Dua resort area. A series of test routes, itineraries, and operational patterns will be trialled during the pilot period

The Tourism Minister expects foreign exchange revenue from travel and hospitality services to exceed the annual goal to reach $18 billion USD by year-end. Indonesia has recorded $8.2 billion USD in Q1 and Q2. The minister is optimistic for higher average spending per arrival (ASPA) in Q3, as well as during the year-end holiday period in Q4

The Tourism Ministry, in collaboration with the National Development Planning Ministry (Bappenas) and Bank Indonesia, is set to release the Indonesia Tourism Outlook 2025/2026 at the Wonderful Indonesia Outlook 2025 event on 20 Nov in Jakarta. The document will outline projections, trends, key sector issues, and findings on the implementation of quality tourism for the 2025-2026 period. The Wonderful Indonesia Outlook 2025 event will also feature the Tourism Outlook Forum with the theme “Quality Sustains Future”

The Tourism Minister said that the ministry will continue to support small businesses and creative industries through strategic programmes in 2026. It will also continue tourism attraction curation, expand the Wonderful Indonesia Gourmet and Wellness programmes, and elevate business mentoring aligned with destination development. The minister reported that 96.3% of the total 2.55 million tourism enterprises registered in the government’s Online Single Submission system are MSMEs, including hotels, restaurants, cafés, travel agencies, leisure venues, and other tourism-related services. The ministry will develop new travel routes focusing on cultural heritage, Muslim-friendly tourism, and marine tourism, integrating MSMEs and creative industry players. It will also strengthen MSMEs in priority regions like North Sumatra, East Nusa Tenggara, and Yogyakarta. The S’RASA programme will also be expanded, promoting Indonesian cuisine overseas through menu standardisation, culinary curation, and support for global Indonesian restaurants

The Bali Police reported that they are investigating a minivan accident in Buleleng District that resulted in the deaths of five Chinese tourists on 14 Nov. The Buleleng District Police has engaged the Chinese consulate in Denpasar for the investigation and repatriation of the victims. Buleleng Police’s Traffic Unit Chief reported that the minivan, which was carrying 13 Chinese tourists, lost control on a winding, downhill section of the road, veered off into a farm field, collided with a tree, and overturned. The eight surviving tourists and the driver have received medical treatment at a local hospital

The Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency reported that landslides in two regions in Central Java due to heavy rain have resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people. A landslide in Cilacap killed at least 16 people, with 7 missing, while the landslide in Banjarnegara killed two people, with 27 missing

Deputy Chair of Commission VII of the House of Representative (DPR) criticised the Tourism Minister for “chaotic” tourism spatial planning, noting that many destinations are not built in accordance with the Regional Spatial Planning (RTRW) and the National Destination Spatial Planning (RTDN), giving example of a nickel mine in Raja Ampat and the glass elevator at Kelingking Beach, Bali

Deputy Minister of Creative Economy stressed the importance of preserving jamu, Indonesia’s traditional herbal medicine, as part of the country’s culinary identity. The Nusantara Herbal Medicine Festival was held on 16 Nov in Jakarta

The Head of the Badung Transportation Agency (Dishub) said they are committed to finding a sustainable solution to the traffic congestion problem in Badung Regency. He reported that there are 1,046,547 motorised vehicles registered in Bandung, outweighing the official population of the regency at 568,550 individuals, excluding tourists and long-staying visitors on non-resident visa. Dishub is strengthening regulation and security at South Kuta intersections, especially ahead of the busy year-end holiday period

The Tourism Minister reported that Indonesia has welcomed over 1.39 million international arrivals in Sep, +9.04% YoY. The ministry believes that the number of international visitors to Indonesia will surpass 14-15 million by year-end. Indonesia has welcomed 11.43 million visitors in Jan-Sep, +10.22% YoY, dominated by visitors from ASEAN countries (35.22% share of total arrivals), as well as other Asian countries (27.57% share). Indonesia also saw 94.36 million domestic trips in Sep, +13.19% YoY. Total domestic trips reached 901.9 million in Jan-Sep, +18.99% YoY. Indonesia’s economy grew 5.04% in Q3 2025, with the tourism sector contributing 3.96% to the national GDP

At least 5 Chinese nationals were killed in a rental minibus accident in Bali, whilst 8 others were injured

The Tourism Ministry organised the Wonderful Indonesia Business Matching Johor Bahru 2025 on 5-6 Nov, connecting 24 Indonesian tourism players with 32 buyers from Malaysia and 23 from Singapore. Indonesia’s Consul General in Johor Bahru said that tourism cooperation is a major part of the “Jiran Istimewa” (Special Neighbour) programme that promotes Indonesian-Malaysian social, economic, and cultural ties

Meliá Hotels International is expanding its portfolio in Asia with a series of openings from late 2025 through 2026. Paradisus by Meliá Bali will open in Dec 2025, the company’s first all-inclusive luxury resort in Asia. In Vietnam, the group will open Meliá Serenity Cam Ranh Beach Resort in Q2 2026, Meliá Aurea Nha Trang later in 2026. It will also rebrand the Meliá Ba Vi Mountain Retreat in Ba Vi National Park near Hanoi over the next two years under The Meliá Collection. In Laos, The Meliá Collection brand will be making its debut with the rebrand of the Grand Luang Prabang, Affiliated by Meliá

Superbank – a digital bank backed by Grab, Singtel, and Kakao Bank – is looking for an IPO on the Indonesia Stock Exchange between mid-Nov and the end of Dec

Analysts called Indonesia’s push for a merger between Grab and GoTo driven more by politics than commercial considerations. They said the President is looking to impose strict control in the sector, with new rules which will offer benefits such as health insurance for the drivers. The government also became more wary since the Aug protest, which saw large participation from ride-hailing sector workers

Indonesia’s Central Bank is expecting a 5.33% GDP growth and annual headline inflation at 2.62% in 2026. IDR is expected to trade at 16,430 IDR to the USD in 2026

The Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives called for a closer collaboration with South Korea on green investment and socio-cultural collaboration during her meeting with the South Korean National Assembly Speaker. She highlighted that a strong collaboration is needed in renewable energy, especially in solar, wind, and hydrogen. She also supported programs such as youth startup networks, youth leadership, and joint tourism campaigns backed by direct flight connectivity

Indonesian and Saudi Arabian governments have started talks to boost tourist exchange to improve cooperation and growth in the tourism sector. Tourism Ministers from both countries discussed this during a meeting in Riyadh. She said Indonesia contributes the largest number of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, and they are expecting more Saudi tourists to Indonesia. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 26th Session of the United Nations Tourism Assembly from 8-11 Nov in Riyadh

Bank Indonesia (BI) data shows the Retail Sales Index (RSI) is projected to reach 219.7 points in Oct, +4.3% YoY from 210.6 in Oct 2024. BI Spokesperson attributed this increase to the increase in sales of spare parts and accessories, food, beverages and tobacco, cultural and recreational goods, and other household equipment. RSI was recorded at 218.3, +3.7% YoY and -2.4% MoM, in Sep

Nirjhara Hotel will launch its 2nd phase of expansion, which will open in stages from summer 2026. The 25-room hotel located in Kedungu, Bali, launched 7 one-bedroom villas in Q3 2026. Under Phase 2, the hotel will offer an Ayurvedic-inspired spa. In 2027, they will include 9 one-bedroom villas and 7 four-bedroom Private Estates

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs said the government is not planning to pursue a rupiah redenomination policy yet, despite the plan mentioned in the Ministry of Finance’s Strategic Plan for 2025–2029. The Finance Ministry previously targeted to complete this Draft Law by 2027

IHG Hotels & Resorts will develop Hotel Indigo Bali Ubud, in partnership with Ristia Group. The 130-room hotel is set to open in 2027 and will be IHG Hotels & Resorts’ second property in the Ubud area. The Radisson Collection will open its first luxury property in Indonesia, known as Atiara Ubud Bali

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will continue with its investigation into the Jakarta-Bandung high-speed rail project despite assurances from the President that there are no major problems with the debt of the project. KPK Deputy Chairman said the preliminary investigation, which began in early 2025, is still ongoing and will determine if any criminal elements, such as corruption involved in the project

The Presidential spokesperson confirmed that Indonesia is discussing a potential merger or acquisition between Grab and GoTo, with a decision expected soon

Indonesia’s Tourism Minister confirmed that Indonesia is set to meet its target of 16 million international arrivals in 2025, with 11.43 million recorded from Q1-Q3 2025, and domestic tourism of 901.9 million in the same period. Travel agencies and tour services grew +9.94% YoY, entertainment and recreation services by 9.92% YoY, transportation and warehousing +8.62% and accommodation, food & beverage by 8.41% YoY

The Bali Police Chief asked the foreign consulates in Bali to support their efforts to improve the tourists’ behaviour when visiting the island. He held a meeting with representatives from 24 consulates in Bali. He also confirmed that 236 foreigners were deported so far in 2025, including from Russia, the US, Australia, Ukraine, and India