Indonesia

Bali Governor ordered to create integrated support units and 24-hour tourist service posts at popular tourism destinations. The agencies which will be involved in this service are Satpol PP (civil police teams), police, health agencies, Disaster Management Agency (DPBD), Search and Rescue Agency (BARNARNAS), and the provincial tourism office. The Bali Governor said this initiative aims to help make Bali “more trusted and respected internationally”. He added that, Bali Government is working on a digital app to offer integrated services between the new tourism command posts and support units. The Head of the Bali Tourism Office said the island recorded 5.6 million international arrivals from Jan-Sep 2025, with Australia, China, and India remaining the top source markets. He added that 81 tourist spots will be equipped with a real-time weather information system in collaboration with the BMKG. He also said that 1,185 immigration actions were taken and 406 people were deported in 2025. There were also 144 cases involving foreign victims, mostly related to accidents and violent acts

The Finance Minister said the government will not offer support to cover debt incurred in the construction of the high-speed railway, Whoosh. Dividends from SOEs reached over 80 trillion IDR ($4.8 billion USD) in the past two years, and used to be transferred directly to the state budget and booked as state revenue. Now, the dividends will be managed by Danantara, which was launched in early 2025. The cost overrun for the project is estimated to have brought the budget from $6 billion to $7.2 billion USD. China Development Bank’s loan covered 75% of the cost, while the consortium which owns the company contributed the rest. The consortium by PT Pilar Sinergi BUMN Indonesia (PSBI) contributed 60% for the rest of the cost and Beijing Yawan HSR Co. Ltd. contributed the remaining 40%. Whoosh sold 6.06 million tickets in 2024, about 1.5 trillion IDR in gross profit

The Coalition of Trade Unions and the Labour Party (KSP-PB) has put a demand for an 8.5%-10% increase in the minimum wage in 2026, higher than the 6.5% hike announced by the President. The Labour Party President said the inflation rate over the past 12 months recorded between 3%-3.26%, while the economy recorded 5.2% growth. The Manpower Minister said that the government is conducting a study on planned wage increase for 2025, and discussions are ongoing with stakeholders. The provincial minimum wage will be decided on 1 Nov and fore regencies or cities on 1 Dec

A new proposed development project called Marina Bay City, spanning over 149 ha in Buwun Mas, Lombok, has sparked hope and concern among the residents. The village chief of Buwun Mas said investors have bought land and promised to develop, but they only ended up abandoning it in the past. But he expressed hope since the construction for the Marina Bay City project has actually begun, and hopes it will benefit the locals who will be involved as workers, partners, and beneficiaries. However, projects like this often leaves residents fearing cultural change, environmental damage, and locals being left out in the development. The nearby Mandalika Resort development was accused of forced evictions without proper compensation for the Sasak families. Similarly, in Tanjung Ann, near Mandalika, a proposal to demolish family-run surf schools, restaurants, and food stalls for luxury hotels has triggered backlash from the public. Marina Bay’s investors vowed to avoid these mistakes, and they have acquired 35 ha of land out of 150 ha. The developers are expecting to get final permits soon, as the foundation for the villas has been placed. The CEO of the project said they have incorporated sustainability features such as waste-to-energy systems, solar-powered transport, electric vehicle charging stations, and community farms. He also promised to offer fair-wage jobs for the locals, scholarships for teachers, and a commitment to hire workers from the village

Danantara expects annual dividends to reach up to $10 billion USD in the coming years. Dananatara currently has $1 trillion USD in assets, with annual dividends reaching $7 billion. Danantara has taken over 1,000 state companies. The Tourism Ministry organised a fam trip for 45 travel agents and tour operators from Europe, Middle East, and the Americas

The Tourism Minister said the ministry’s Karisma Event Nusantara program, which involved 95,000 event workers and engaged with 14,800 SMEs, helped to attract 10.8 million visitors with an economic turnover of 11.82 trillion IDR

The tourism industry contributed 4% to GDP in 2024, vs 3.9% in 2023, according to the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs. International arrivals have reached 10.04 million from Jan-Aug 2025, +10.4% YoY, and domestic trips reached 807.6 million, +20% YoY. He added that the tourism receipts have reached 11.82 trillion IDR. The Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair (WITF) 2025 recorded 300 exhibitors and 200 buyers from 40 countries

The Culture Minister advised museums to adopt technology, immersive exhibitions, and video mapping to attract more visitors. There are 481 museums across Indonesia, including 196 managed by regional governments, 118 museums by the central government, 166 by private parties, and 1 by a customary law community. Under the 2026 Non-Physical Special Allocation Fund, 150 billion (around $9 million USD) will be allocated to 111 museums and 29 cultural centres in various regions

The Forestry Minister reported that forest and land fires across Indonesia have dropped in 2025 compared to 2024. 213,984 ha of forests were affected by wildfires in 2025, -43.2% YoY, while peatland fires affected 24,212 ha, and mineral land fires affected 189,772 ha. A total of 2,248 hotspots were detected from 1 Jan-26 Sep, -23.9% YoY

The Minister of State Secretary said the government is determined to continue the Whoosh high-speed train project until Surabaya, despite debt burden faced by the operator, PT Kereta Cepat Indonesia China (KCIC)

The Tourism Minister called on all sectors to collaborate to strengthen Muslim-friendly tourism in Indonesia during the 7th International Halal Tourism Summit on 9 Oct. She cited CrescentRating’s data, which shows that international Muslim tourist arrivals will reach 176 million in 2024, and is expected to increase to 245 million by 2030, with $235 billion USD in estimated spending. Bank Indonesia (BI), the Enhaii Halal Tourism Centre (EHTC), and CrescentRating will work together to develop the 2025 Indonesia Muslim Travel Index

The Tourism Ministry advised MICE industry players to apply sustainability principles in their events to present an inclusive and higher-quality tourism and creative economy services. Deputy for the Development of Event Organisation at the ministry cited an example from Africa, where the attendees were invited to clean up a beach to watch a free concert. He said this can be held in Indonesia as well

The Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair was held from 9-12 Oct at the Nusantara International Convention Exhibition. This event was categorised as a Green Event, where carbon emissions generated by the visitors will be calculated. 70% of Indonesian Provinces took part as exhibitors. The event recorded 300 exhibitors, 200 buyers from 40 countries, as well as 300 corporate buyers and trade visitors from various companies. There were 3,200 meeting sessions conducted at the event. The Tourism Ministry will bring 45 travel agents from Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas for a fam trip to highlight key tourism destinations and business matching event in Bali

Visa published data on consumer spending in Aug 2025. The data shows there is an increase in consumer spending for Indonesia and Australia markets, while China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam lag in spending. Outbound Chinese travel is yet to recover, with visa accessibility remaining an important key factor influencing destinations. Travel demand in corridors like Indonesia-Vietnam and India-Thailand remains resilient despite issues like weak job creation and income inequality. Tourists from the Asia Pacific region have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with the exception of China and Japan. Cruise travel spending in Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, and China has outpaced general travel, but Australia and Malaysia still trail. Travellers from India and Indonesia are looking for their first overseas travel experiences. The affluent segment in the Asia Pacific is growing fast with an 8% growth rate from 2025-2030. Affluent tourists are taking more trips. In Japan, they are making 2.5X more trips and 50% more in China and India The top spenders are Australians and Chinese, with $3,000 USD per trip, while other countries in the region spend about $1,000-1,500 USD per trip Indonesians and Australians are spending on hotels, while the Chinese spend on recreation and culture. India and New Zealand spend more on retail experiences

Visa published data on consumer spending in Aug 2025. The data shows there is an increase in consumer spending for Indonesia and Australia markets, while China, Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam lag in spending. Outbound Chinese travel is yet to recover, with visa accessibility remaining an important key factor influencing destinations. Travel demand in corridors like Indonesia-Vietnam and India-Thailand remains resilient despite issues like weak job creation and income inequality. Tourists from the Asia Pacific region have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with the exception of China and Japan. Cruise travel spending in Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, and China has outpaced general travel, but Australia and Malaysia still trail. Travellers from India and Indonesia are looking for their first overseas travel experiences. The affluent segment in the Asia Pacific is growing fast with an 8% growth rate from 2025-2030. Affluent tourists are taking more trips. In Japan, they are making 2.5X more trips and 50% more in China and India The top spenders are Australians and Chinese, with $3,000 USD per trip, while other countries in the region spend about $1,000-1,500 USD per trip Indonesians and Australians are spending on hotels, while the Chinese spend on recreation and culture. India and New Zealand spend more on retail experiences

The first Indonesia Halal Travel Fair was held in Bandung from 2-5 Oct. The event was organised by the West Java chapter of the Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (ASTINDO), featuring 30 exhibitors. ASTINDO will organise the next Muslim-friendly travel fair from 21-23 Nov at Kota Kasablanka, Jakarta, targeting Umrah and leisure travellers

The Tourism Ministry aims to increase the revenue from the MICE sector from the current 10% to 15% by 2029, and increase employment opportunities. Currently, the biggest contributors to Indonesia’s tourism industry are cultural tourism, contributing 60%, nature tourism (30%), and events (10%). From Jan-Sep 2025, the government supported 134 events, attracting 10.8 million domestic and international visitors. To support the MICE industry, the Westin Resort & Spa Ubud Bali offers a ballroom with a capacity of 100 people and 118 rooms close to Ubud, Bali’s popular destinations. For event booking with 30 room nights booked, they will offer a complimentary stay and activities such as wellness activities such as guided jungle trekking and cycling

The Tourism Minister stressed the government's commitment to address obstacles such as bureaucracy and financial burden in the events industry. She pointed out that the organisers often face problems due to the limited capital and initial funds needed. The Tourism Ministry’s Deputy for the Development of Event Organisation highlighted the need to upgrade tourism infrastructure and facilities. He said Indonesia ranks at 37th globally and 10th in the Asia Pacific in the MICE industry, according to the International Congress and Conventions Association (ICCA). The ministry hosted the Southeast Asia Business Events Forum (SEABEF) from 10-11 Oct and the Wonderful Indonesia Tourism Fair (WITF) 2025 from 9-12 Oct at Pantai Indah Kapuk 2, Banten, to address these issues

Foreign tourists are banned from visiting the Baduy tribal hamlets in Lebak, Banten. The ban also applies to Inner Baduy hamlets in Cibeo, Cikawartana, and Cikeusik. The Gajeboh hamlet of the Outer Baduy is also closed to foreign tourists, as it houses a traditional institution building and borders the Inner Baduy area, which is off-limits for photography. Kanekes Village Head urges the visitors to follow local customary regulations. Tourists are also prohibited from using guides from outside the Baduy community

The Ministry of Forestry will limit visitors to the Komodo National Park, East Nusa Tenggara, to 1,000 tourists per day to protect the national park from environmental degradation. In 2024, the national park recorded more than 300,000 visitors. The daily quota will be divided into 3 sessions, each with 300-330 people. The trial for the quota system will start in Jan 2026, before the official implementation begins in Apr 2026

The Minister of Environment warned the hotel industry in Bali to take responsibility for maintaining the ecosystem. He earlier took part in a coordination meeting of Bali’s hospitality industry. The meeting was held after the 2025 Corporate Performance Rating Assessment Programme (PROPER) by the Ministry of Environment. The assessment was carried out on 229 hotels, and the assessment found no hotel met the criteria for environmentally friendly properties, and some hotels even received a Red ranking, the second lowest. He, however, acknowledged that many hotels have adopted energy-saving technology, improved waste management, and constructed green buildings. He added that the government will support sustainable practices through training, technical guidance, and policy measures. The hotels whic apply sustainability principles will be qualified for Green Hotel certification and promotional support. The Environment Ministry supports efforts to integrate corporate social responsibility with activities like tree planting, watershed restoration, and the creation of green spaces

Indonesia pushed back its peak emissions target to 2035, casting doubt on the country’s plan to reach net zero by 2060. The Renewable Energy Director General at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said the government took some efforts to prevent the setbacks. Indonesia’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) will be presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 30) in Belem, Brazil. Indonesia only recorded a 16% share of renewable energy from the total in 2025, from 14.68% in 2024 and 13.1% in 2023. Indonesia revised its initial target to have 23% of renewable energy share by 2025, to 17%-19% in 2025. Utility company PLN set a target to increase the renewable energy share to 34.3% to the national energy mix by the end of 2034

The Singapore Grand Prix Formula 1 (F1) boosted tourism arrivals and spending beyond Singapore. Data from Sojern shows that 25% of American and Canadian visitors to F1 booked flights to Japan; nearly 1/3rd of Australians travelled to Indonesia, specifically Bali; and 18% of Europeans booked trips to Thailand, and others travelled to China, South Korea, India, the Maldives, and Fiji. A senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore (NUS) said travel websites have bundled trips to the F1 race in Singapore with popular Southeast Asian island destinations. He added that visitors to the F1 race often travel to Bali 2 or 3 days after the race. CNBC Travel found packages combining the F1 race with Langkawi and Borneo trips in Malaysia, and cruises with stops in Japan, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. Travellers also scheduled their trip to the F1 race with the Milken Institute Asia Summit (1-3 Oct) and Token2049, a crypto conference (7-8 Oct). Family travellers to Singapore recorded +6.6% YoY, but solo travellers dropped by 8%

The Tourism Ministry said from Jan-Jul 2025, domestic tourist arrivals recorded a 19.25% YoY increase. The government is targeting 1.08 billion domestic tourists by the end of 2025, with the industry contributing 4.6% to the GDP and generating foreign exchange of 19-22.1 billion USD. West Java recorded 130 million domestic tourist trips in H1 2024, around 18% of the total domestic trips in the country, followed by East Java with 122.33 million trips, Central Java with 84.67 million trips, Jakarta with 59.64 million trips, and Banten with 45.41 million trips

The 2025 MotoGP in the Mandalika Circuit, West Nusa Tenggara, boosted the local economy with 4.8 trillion IDR in economic turnover and attracted 140,324 spectators, +15.6% YoY and the highest visitors recorded since the first event in 2022. Data from the NTB Tourism Agency shows hotel occupancy in Lombok Island reached 93%, Mataram 90%, and Mandalika recorded a 100% during the event. Lombok Airport operated 44 additional flights to accommodate the visitors. The event also benefited the MSMEs. The Mandalika SEZ has recorded 5.7 trillion IDR in investment, creating 19,010 jobs, and hosted 28 active businesses in the area

Bali Governor met with the Tourism Minister to discuss Bali’s tourism development. The Governor said culture-based, quality, and dignified tourism should be implemented in line with the Bali Provincial Regulation Number 5 of 2020 The tourism promotion in Bali should be held in collaboration with the Tourism Ministry and the Bali Government to be more productive Bali plans to implement a quota system for foreign tourists visiting Bali to target high-quality tourists. This is to ensure the visitors respect Bali culture, obey rules, and spend more time and money in Bali The Governor also asked for support to manage unruly tourists The Governor said the relevant agencies will take action against tourists and businesses that violate local regulations The Tourism Minister supports Bali Governor’s policies to make sure that Bali tourism will be high quality and sustainable, while supporting the local economy

TikTok’s suspension has been lifted by Indonesia, after it had been “temporarily suspended” on 3 Oct after failing to provide adequate data on the activity of its live feature during the protests in Aug. On 29 Sep, it was fined $900,000 USD for failing to notify regulators ahead of time about its acquisition of Tokopedia

Coordinating Economy Minister said he will travel to Washington, DC to sign the the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) between Indonesia and the US by the end of Oct. He added that they are in the “legal drafting” stage. The Indonesian delegation has scheduled at least six virtual meetings with the US Trade Representative (USTR) Office

The Tourism Minister expressed confidence that the flood would not affect the tourist arrivals to Bali. She added that there are no cancellations of bookings and flights reported, and the hotels remain fully booked

The Deputy Tourism Minister visited Kota Tua (Old Town) in Jakarta to review plans to revitalise and preserve cultural heritage. The revitalisation will be carried out in collaboration with Jakarta’s Regional Development Planning Agency (Bappeda DKI), MRT Jakarta, the Cultural Heritage Expert Team (TACB), and Bank Mandiri. It is part of a wider plan to implement Transit-Oriented Development (TOD)

The third amendment to Law No. 10 of 2009 on Tourism includes disaster mitigation, and permits the government to collect levies from international tourists to support tourism development. The Tourism Minister stated that the new revision “is expected to address the major challenges facing our tourism sector, ranging from environmental degradation, limited accessibility, low human resource skills, to minimal economic benefits for local communities. Tourism must be seen as a driving force for the economy as well as an instrument for civilisational development”. It is now waiting for President Prabowo’s ratification

The All Indonesia app has been officially launched to simplify the arrival process for international tourists entering Indonesia. The app will integrate immigration, customs, health, and quarantine services into one platform. From Jan-Sep 2025, 20 million people entered Indonesia

The QRIS system will link with Alipay and WeChat, as part of Bank Indonesia’s (BI) expansion in China. The integration is expected to be fully implemented by the end of 2025

Jakarta Governor announced the city will host several major sports events in 2025 during the “Olympic Day 2025” event at City Hall. Other sporting events organised in Jakarta include: Jakarta is currently hosting the International Golf Championship in Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK) Jakarta will host the 17th National Student Sports Week (POPNAS) in 2025, which was initially scheduled to be held in Medan and Aceh In Oct, the Jakarta Running Festival will be held with over 27,000 participants Jakarta continues to promote an active lifestyle through its weekly Car Free Day program

The House of Representatives (DPR) approved a third amendment to Law No. 10 of 2009 on Tourism to facilitate inclusive and sustainable tourism development. The Chair of DPR Commission VII said this will promote community-based tourism, cultural preservation, and adaptation to global trends such as digital transformation

The Head of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Region III warned about the possibility of increased risk of coastal flooding in Bali following the supermoon phase from 7-11 Oct, which could increase the sea level. He added that the tidal predictions and water level data show the risk of coastal flooding in Gianyar, Kuta, Tabanan, Klungkung, and Karangasem. The Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division of the Karangasem Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) reported that the flood water is yet to recede by about 30cm in village roads and plantation areas. Denpasar City will be in the ‘Emergency Transition Status’, until 17 Dec

Bank Indonesia (BI) reported total cross-border QRIS transactions in West Sumatra reached 14.1 billion IDR from Jan-Jul 2025. BI data shows 37,000 Malaysian tourists visited West Sumatra in that period, and 23,000 of them used the QRIS payment method. 60% of the transactions involved MSMEs, especially in the food & beverage sector. The QRIS program will be expanded to Thailand, and to other countries in the region soon

The House of Representatives (DPR RI) has passed the Tourism Bill into law. The bill focuses on a human rights-centred approach and strengthening national identity. The law will also define new terms such as tourism ecosystem and cultural heritage. The law has 4 new sections, namely on tourism development planning; tourism destinations; tourism marketing; and information and communication technology, which includes digitalisation

The Tourism Minister said the hotel occupancy rates have started to improve since H1 2025. She said that the occupancy in H1 2025 was dropping due to the preference of tourists staying in accommodations such as villas. She added that many of the villas are unregistered and do not pay their taxes. The Tourism Ministry launched an initiative to encourage the villa owners to register on the ministry’s platform. Once they are registered, the villas can pay taxes. The Statistics Agency (BPS) reported the occupancy rate is declining for starred hotels, reaching +52.79% MoM but recording a -3.57% YoY. In Jun, the occupancy rate recorded a -4.71% YoY drop. For non-starred hotels, the occupancy dropped by 1.42% YoY in Jul. BPS said almost all provinces recorded a MoM increase in starred hotels occupancy rate in Jul vs Jun

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) data show 1.51 million international visitors in Aug 2025, +12.33% YoY. From Jan-Aug 2025, 10.04 million international tourists visited Indonesia, +10.38% YoY. The top tourist arrivals in Aug were from Malaysia, with 229,730 (15.26% of the total visitors), Australia with 155,730 visitors, China with 140,670, and Singapore with 129,860. Foreign tourists spend 11.02 nights on average in Indonesia, ASEAN tourists spend the shortest stay of 4.8 nights, while European tourists have the longest stay of 16.29 nights. Russian tourists spend 22.7 nights on average, while Singaporeans only stay for 3.09 nights

GWK Cultural Park has been criticised following complaints that its perimeter wall is blocking access to villages and residents. The Bali Government has issued orders to demolish parts of the perimeter to help improve access for the locals. Bali Governor said, despite the wall being built on privately owned land, it regretfully blocks access to the local community to go to school and work

Indonesia will expand tax relief for tourism workers beyond Jakarta to the rest of the country from Oct-Dec 2025, for those earning up to $610 USD per month. This incentive will shift personal income tax payments to the state, which will allow the employees to keep more of their salaries, and hotels will have better cash flow. The Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs said this will ease pressure on hotels while protecting workers’ income. Despite welcoming the tax relief, the industry players remain wary of its impact. The Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (IHRA) reported the hotel occupancy rate dropped by 3.5% in H1 2025, and it is yet to recover. Due to low demand, the hotels had to rely on service charges to supplement wages. The IHRA Chairman said only 5-star hotels are benefiting from this policy, since they have more workers exceeding the taxable limit, while for 4-star hotels and below, it is likely only department heads who are qualified. The CEO of Mora Group is asking the government to reallocate government funds for marketing campaigns to revive secondary cities, which are struggling with low occupancy

The Tourism Minister said the government sees the Wonderful Indonesia Gourmet (WIG) program as a strategic effort to make Indonesia a world-class gastronomic tourism destination. The WIG Talkshow was held in Bali on 30 Sep. In 2024, restaurants contributed 27.6 trillion IDR and food and beverage contributed 9.71 trillion IDR, together contributing 12.5% to Bali’s GDP. From Jan-Jul 2025, Indonesia welcomed 8.53 million international tourists, 46.5% or 3.97 million visited Bali

South Kalimantan Provincial Government lifted the emergency alert status for forest and land fires, which was issued on 4 Aug

The President asked the Youth and Sports Minister to boost sports tourism and support young athletes, after meeting with the 2025 MotoGP world champion. The Mandalika Circuit generated nearly 4.8 trillion IDR in economic impact. Tickets for the Indonesian GP, scheduled for 3-5 Oct, are nearly sold out

The Finance Minister said Indonesia’s GDP is expected to record a 5.5% growth in Q4 2025

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) plans to give priority to tourism businesses which meet sustainable development goals (SDG) to participate in government-organised tourism exhibitions and sales missions as part of the effort to support the tourism industry’s shift to sustainability and align with Indonesia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets. MoT’s Deputy for Industry and Investment said that the ministry has implemented various programs aligned with NDC targets, such as managing food waste and food loss, implementing the Blue, Green, and Circular Economy in hotels, awarding Green Hotel recognition, and developing a hotel supply chain linked to SDG. The NDC set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 32% through its own efforts or 43% with international support by 2030. The NDC targets to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 or earlier, manage 70% of waste by 2025, and reduce per capita food waste by 35% by 2030

Satpol PP, a Bali Civil Police team, launched an investigation against illegal money changers and money exchange scams in and around Ubud. The Acting Head of the Gianyar PP Police Officer said there are 105 known moneychangers in operation in the Gianyar Regency area (Ubud, Tengallalang, Tampaksiring, and Sayan), and his team found several violations, such as offering above-average exchange rates and illegally hired employees. He added that several of the moneychangers have only been operating for 2-3 months. Tourists are advised to withdraw cash from an ATM, rather than exchanging money

The Minister of Environment issued a warning to the starred hotels in Bali to be responsible in managing waste generated in their business premises. He and his team visited Bali to conduct an assessment of the hospitality sector’s environmental performance. He gave 3 months’ notice for accommodation owners, especially star hotels in Bali, to manage their waste. He added that his team have evaluated all elements, including the responsibility of star hotels in Bali, Denpasar City, and Badung Regency. The first action will focus on star hotels, since they have a higher turnover and produce larger volumes of waste compared to private villas, guesthouses, and B&Bs. Law Number 18 of 2008 states that the owners need to manage the waste except for the residues, which are managed by the local government. He blamed waste generated by the tourism sector for putting pressure on Suwung TPA, a landfill with 1,800 tons generated per day from a population of only 1.1 million people. He claims 500 tons of waste per day is from the tourism sector, while the residents of Badung and Denpasar generate 1,300 tons

Indonesia has generated 48 trillion IDR ($2.86 billion USD) worth of investment through the Golden Visa scheme. 1,012 Golden Visas have been issued as of 23 Sep by the Directorate General of Immigration, and they contributed to 12.96 billion in non-tax state revenue. Subsidiaries of foreign companies hold an investment value of 46.5 trillion IDR, while personal investors contributed 249.3 billion IDR, and other Golden Visa holders contributed 1.45 trillion IDR. The immigration office data shows that people from 61 countries have received the Golden Visa

The Tourism Ministry will collaborate with the maritime industry to organise a fam trip for diving tour companies in Europe and Canada from 6-17 Sep in Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua. 4 companies, namely Faces of the Sea from Canada, Dive Worldwide from the UK, Tropical Seas Tauch und Fernreisen from Austria, and The Wild Blue from Italy, took part in this trip

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) warned about cockfighting in Bali for tourism, which allegedly involved illegal gambling and animal cruelty. PETA advised the visitors against attending these events, deeming them illegal and unethical

Four Points by Sheraton, Bekasi, is now open to welcome guests. This will be the 14th Four Points by Sheraton in Indonesia. The hotel is located near the Bekasi Barat LRT Station. The hotel features 242 rooms and a ballroom with 1,200 guests capacity

The 15th edition of Jakarta International Jazz Festival (JakJazz), the oldest international jazz festival in Southeast Asia, will be held from 20 Dec, after a 6-year hiatus. JakJazz will be held in Senayan Park in Jakarta, with a capacity of 4,500 attendees

The exhibition sector in Indonesia is adjusting to short-term disruptions from the recent political protests in Jakarta and other parts of Indonesia. The International Franchise Licence & Business Concept Expo & Conference (IFRA) was closed on its launch day, 29 Aug, following a warning from the police of the escalating protests around parliament. The Indonesian Exhibition Companies Association (IECA) said 10 exhibitions in Jakarta, such as the 2025 RX Huabo Asia Gift Fair Indonesia, and Indonesia International Pet Expo (IIPE) rescheduled to Oct and Nov from late Aug and early Sep. IIPE was moved to 31 Oct from 5-7 Sep

The Deputy Minister of Tourism asked the regional governments to work with content creators to boost promotion of tourist destinations. She said content creators are important to spread information about destinations and can play an important role in tourism promotion, amid the age of digital content

The Head of the Presidential Staff Office (KSP) said that the government is targeting to complete all facilities for the executive, legislative, and judiciary branches of government in Nusantara (IKN) by 2028. The government’s updated 2025 work plan (RKP) prioritises IKN development with an allocation of 36.25 trillion IDR for the IKN Authority, of which 18.12 trillion IDR will be used to build a sustainable city and boost Kalimantan’s GDP growth to 5.8%. For planning, construction, and relocation, including the Core Government Area (KIPP), 17.82 trillion IDR will be allocated

The National Hotel Institute (NHI) Bandung Tourism Polytechnic, under the Ministry of Tourism (MoTCE), signed an agreement with CrescentRating (CR) to promote Muslim-friendly travel and halal hospitality. This agreement will also aim to improve Indonesia’s ranking in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), which dropped to 5th place in 2025, from the first place in 2023 and 2024. Under the agreement, NHI students will participate in internship programs under the CR network. NHI will also integrate CR’s global standards in its education models and certification for students, lecturers, and industry professionals. CR will assist with market trends, consumer behaviour and the development of Muslim-friendly destinations research, as well as the implementation of a responsible, Immersive, Digital and Assured Framework in Bandung, Bogor and Cirebon. Bank Indonesia will launch the fourth and largest Indonesian Muslim Travel Index (IMTI) with the support of MoTCE

The negotiations for the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were finalised on 23 Sep, after starting the talks 10 years back. This is the EU’s 3rd agreement in Southeast Asia after Singapore and Vietnam. A researcher from the Centre for Strategic and International Studies said that the US tariff policy has created the need to accelerate the agreement process. Under this agreement, EU exporters can save 600 million euros annually, which will allow Indonesian consumers to enjoy affordable European products

The Tourism Minister held a dialogue session with Makassar Tourism Polytechnic students to discuss ways to improve the tourism sector, especially in building human resource capacity and competitiveness. The students presented several proposals, including promoting the phinisi ship as Sulawesi’s icon in Bulukumba and promoting Palopo City as a marine, cultural, and historical tourism destination. The Minister supported the ideas and said the Ministry could integrate phinisi promotion into their tourism development agenda. She also said there should be better shipping regulations in Indonesia. The Tourism Ministry’s Upgrading Tourism Program will improve tourism quality across infrastructure, human resources, tourism products, and promotion

Indonesia, in collaboration with the Indonesia Gastronomy Network, will host the Wonderful Indonesia Gourmet (WIG) event from 25 Sep to promote the gastronomy industry in Indonesia. Agoda’s data from Jun-Jul 2025 places Indonesia among the top 5 culinary destinations, alongside Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. During WIG, the Tourism Ministry will launch the Indonesia Gourmet Guide as a reference to tourists. The event will also feature “WIG Talk” in Bali, a discussion on topics related to gastronomy and the food and beverage industry, featuring key opinion leaders and international media. There will be an "Artisan Food Market" to showcase dishes from 5 renowned Balinese restaurants and 15 local artisanal vendors. Indonesia will be hosting international chefs to do food demos and knowledge, and recipe exchange