Indonesia

Jakarta will develop 267 urban micro parks to improve air quality, reduce extreme heat, and improve living standards. Jakarta will also prioritise micro open spaces in 455 slum neighbourhoods. Besides that, the initiatives also include landscaping under 300 flyovers and bridges, restoring 32 km of mangroves, and planting 500,000 trees to expand green open space to 10% of Jakarta’s area by 2030. Jakarta will expand Transjabodetabek routes, and will add 5,000 units of electric buses from the current 420 buses, and speed up transit-oriented development projects. Jakarta will launch sea-based Transjakarta routes to improve access to the Seribu Islands, and speed up regulations on green and energy-efficient buildings for the provincial government

The Head of the Buleleng Tourism Office said that hotels in the region, which are also members of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), are recording a 90% occupancy rate for the Christmas and New Year holiday, with some hotels closing bookings as they are fully booked. Tourism businesses in the region are seeing a recovery in bookings after a decline following the Mount Semeru eruption in East Java

Radisson Hotel Group signed ANTA Hotel Bali Canggu, a new lifestyle serviced apartment project which is set to open in 2027, with 116 serviced apartments

Southern Indonesia is preparing to face potential floods and landslides from extreme weather following a new cyclone seed which affected Bali and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) detected the cyclone seed in the Indian Ocean south of East Java, Bali, NTB, and East Nusa Tenggara on 12 Dec

Bali’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported that between 8-14 Dec, Bali recorded more than 65,000 lightning strikes due to Cyclone Seed 93S. The Acting Head of BMKG said that most strikes were recorded in Tabanan Regency. Around 150 tourists were affected, including those moved to another accommodation and those who shortened their vacation

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) reported 12.76 million international arrivals from Jan-Oct 2025. The Tourism Minister is expecting 14-15 million foreign tourists visiting Indonesia in 2025

Indonesia will focus on 15 countries for tourism promotions for 2026. The countries are Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, the UK, Germany, France, Russia, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and the US. The top source markets for the Jan-Oct 2025 period were: Malaysia, 2,182,626 tourists, +15.91% YoY Singapore, 1,197,222, +7.99% YoY India, 603,654, +3.25% YoY Russia, 178,434, +29.94% YoY

The Tourism Ministry and OTAs will work together to help all businesses which offer accommodation services to obtain business permits by 31 Mar 2026. The Ministry has collected data and mapped 77 tourism business sectors. 8 out of the businesses are short-term accommodation businesses. This mapping and research activity was held in Jakarta and Bali. Based on the results, there are more than 29,000 non-hotel accommodations listed on OTA platforms in Bali. But only 14,500 are registered with the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM). In Jakarta, 5,000 non-hotel accommodations are registered on the OTA platform, but only 1,500 or 28.1% are licensed

Sumatra death toll following flooding and landslides increased to 1,006, with 217 still missing and 5,400 injured based on the latest data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency. The President visited the region on 13 Dec and said he would rebuild the damaged areas. The government will offer debt relief for the flood victims, and suspend the operations of mining and palm oil companies over the potential ties to the flood

The police announced nearly 298 tourist jeeps operating on Mount Bromo routes in Malang, East Java, have secured safety insurance after passing vehicle inspections ahead of the year-end holiday season

Bali hosted a tourism business roundtable meeting at the Fairfield by Marriott Bali Kuta Ngurah Rai Hotel, attended by stakeholders from the Bali Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Bali, the Indonesian Young Entrepreneurs Association (HIPMI) Bali, the Bali Tourism Board, and members of ASITA Bali and Organda. The Honorary Consul of Kazakhstan also attended the event, and he said Kazakhstan has potential for development, including in the wellness sector. While Bali welcomed a sizable number of Kazakhstan visitors, it is still lower compared to 200,000-300,000 Kazakhstan tourists visiting Thailand and Vietnam

Indonesia and Russia will explore bilateral visa-free travel between the two nations, with President Putin raising the possibility of direct flights

Medan, Sumatra, extends disaster emergency status for 14 days from 11-24 Dec, following a flood in the region on 27 Nov. This is also part of the mitigation for potential disaster during an extreme rainfall forecast for 8-15 Dec according to the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG)

The death toll in Sumatra has reached 990 as of 11 Dec, and more than 220 people are still missing

Top tourist attractions in Bali are expected to increase their entry fees in 2026. Ulun Danu Beratan Temple will increase its fees from 1 Jul 2026 for domestic tourists to 50,000 IDR for adults and 25,000 IDR for children, from 20,000 IDR. For international visitors, the fees will increase to 100,000 IDR from 75,000 IDR for adults, and to 75,000 IDR from 50,000 IDR for children. The temple welcomed 467,895 people from Jan-Nov 2025, with the highest arrival of 51,000 people recorded in Jul

The Indonesian Government said Airbnb service is needed to promote tourism in the country, pushing back against Bali’s plan to ban Airbnb. The Tourism Ministry will encourage the owners of villas and guest houses to get licenses and ensure compliance with service standards and tax obligations. The ministry clarified that it will not stop the operations of online travel agencies in Indonesia. Data shows Bali accounts for 45% of the 1.3 million tourist arrivals in Oct

Bank Indonesia’s (BI) preliminary retail sales index (RSI) is projected to increase to 222.1 in Nov, +5.9% YoY vs 209.7 in Nov 2024. The consumer confidence index (CCI) increased to 124 points in Nov from 121.2 points registered in Oct

Crystal Bay Beach in Nusa Penida has been closed to tourists due to flash floods. Clean-up work was carried out on 9 Dec involving police, army, business owners, and local communities, and 75% of the area has been cleared

Two runners died of suspected heart attacks while taking part in the 2025 Siksorogo Lawu Ultra trail race on Mount Lawu in Karanganyar, Central Java. Karanganyar Police reported both person has serious medical conditions

Indonesia is working to make green tourism for the MSMEs as a core development pillar to support community-based enterprises, natural resources protection, and improve Indonesia’s competitiveness in the global market. The Tourism Minister said this transformation is aligned with the country’s Medium-Term Development Plan 2025-2029, which focuses on sustainable destination management, green infrastructure, inclusive supply chains and climate-resilient practices. The Tourism Ministry will implement this agenda in partnership with the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Both have worked together to implement the Green Economy Action Partnership (PAGE) program since 2023 to implement training and capacity-building for the tourism workers and MSMEs; tourism development forums; mentoring and technical assistance, and access to advisory tools and guidance on eco-friendly business transformations

The Finance Ministry has cut state capital injections (PMN) for state-owned enterprises (SOEs) after Danantara began to manage SOE dividends. The Finance Minister announced that the PMN in 2025 would total 11.5 trillion IDR, less than 35.2 trillion IDR allocated in 2024. The SOE dividends, which are expected to exceed 80 trillion IDR for 2025, will go to Danantara, instead of the government, and it will be reinvested in portfolio assets or loans or capital for the SOEs

Design Hotels has expanded its Asia-Pacific footprint with 14 new signings across six countries in 2025, including in Thailand (Public House in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit), Malaysia (ELSE in Kuala Lumpur), and Indonesia (Magia de Uma in Bali)

Bali has received its own domain name, .bali, which will help the people and businesses to promote globally under a collaboration between the Indonesian Internet Domain Name Management (PANDI). This collaboration includes domain management, technical governance, and operational preparation

Indonesia said it needs more than 51.82 trillion IDR ($3.11 billion USD) for reconstruction and recovery funds after severe floods in Sumatra. The Head of Disaster Mitigation Agency said Aceh need 25.41 trillion IDR, while 12.88 trillion IDR is needed for North Sumatra, and 13.52 trillion IDR for West Sumatra

914 were killed in flash floods and landslides in Sumatra, whilst 389 are still missing

883 people were confirmed dead in flooding and landslides in Indonesia, with contaminated wells and broken waterpipes to contend with

The Tourism Ministry announced the Bilebante Green Tourism Village in Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, as the Best National Tourism Village during the “Wonderful Indonesia Awards 2025”

West Java has mooted a plan to build a new railway linking Jakarta-Bandung, with a rail line that would take 1.5 hours from Gambir to Bandung. It would need $620 million USD in investment, and would have a 4-year construction period of 2027-2030. The project will be studied in 2026. The Indonesian Transportation Society has cautioned that with the existence of high-speed rail WHOOSH already linking the two cities, that the route is “unnecessary”

Local residents and the Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) Klungkung expressed concern over the demolition order for the Kelingking Glass Elevator Project by the Bali Governor. PHRI Klungkung Chairman said the cancellation of the project might scare potential investors, as the project already costs 200 billion IDR to construct. He said the project cancellation was announced after the Government found major building violations, noting that the Klungkung Regent is firm with the demolition order and leaves the decision to the Governor. He added that he has an idea for an eco-friendly ironwood staircase, which will shorten the travel time from 1.5 hours to 30 minutes

Indonesia targets to cut ocean waste by 50% by 2029. The Director General of Marine Management at the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) said around 16 million tons of waste enter the ocean every year, with 80% originating from land, while the remaining 20% is from marine activities. The Ministry plans to reduce the waste in stages by 10% by 2026, 20% by 2027, 30% by 2028, and 50% by 2029. KKP will implement measures such as large-scale clean-up, waste balance assessments based on monitoring areas, incentives and disincentives for stakeholders, shifting cultural practices that generate waste, and integrating funding to manage marine waste to achieve this target

The Forestry Minister announced that the ministry will revoke 20 Forest Utilisation Business Permits (PBPH) covering an area of 750,000 hectares, including in Sumatra, following the severe floods. He added that, in Feb 2025, the ministry revoked 18 PBPH permits covering 526,144 hectares. The Minister will also impose moratoriums on new PBPH permits for natural forests and plantation forests

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 Tourism Ministry announced a “Gastronomy Tour Package” catalogue featuring 15 gastronomy businesses with their tour packages under the Wonderful Indonesia Scale-up Hub (WISH) 2025 program. The Deputy for Industry and Investment at the Ministry of Tourism said foreign tourists spend 37.89% on accommodation and 45.24% on food and beverage, souvenirs, entertainment, and local tour packages

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