Indonesia

3,000 new umrah pilgrims are still departing for Saudi Arabia from Indonesia daily. As for the upcoming Haj season, 3 scenarios for Haj contingency travels have been laid out by the government: Pilgrims able to to travel - flights rerouted via the southern corridor over the Indian Ocean, entering Saudi Arabia after flying through eastern African airspace. Protocols for emergency scenarios such as evacuation, as well as medicine and food procurement, would be done earlier If Indonesia deems the citation too unsafe to depart despite the Saudi government resuming Haj - the government will cancel and restrict all departures and will negotiate for the partial refund of travel and accommodation costs, asking for it to be carried over into 2027 The cancellation of the 2026 Haj by Saudi Arabia - Indonesia would seek a full refund from the authorities for all costs incurred so far

Indonesian Hajj and Umrah Minister said the Saudi Arabian Government has assured the safety of Umrah pilgrims amid the conflict in the Middle East. He said that the situation in Saudi Arabia, especially in Jeddah, Mecca, and Medina, remains safe and stable. He said the airspace closure has disrupted international flights, especially those transiting through Middle Eastern countries. There are 50,374 Indonesian Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, and 14,115 of them will likely face a delay in return due to flight disruptions. The Ministry has contacted all Umrah travel organisers to ensure the pilgrims receive proper assistance. The Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah advised the pilgrims to delay their departure due to the conflict

The Government is preparing for several scenarios for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, following the conflict in the Middle East. The President asked the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to ensure the safety of pilgrims. The Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah said one of the scenarios is to adjust the flight routes to Saudi Arabia if the standard route is not safe to travel. He said rerouting options will involve coordination with aviation authorities and several transit countries, including southern routes or flying via Africa. The government is also looking at the possibility of postponing departures if the conflict is deemed to cause safety risks to the pilgrims. The Ministry’s 2026 Hajj plan shows that the pilgrims will enter the Hajj dormitories on 21 Apr, with the first phase of departure on 22 Apr and the second phase from 7 May. The pilgrims will return to Indonesia from 1 Jun to 1 Jul

Industry stakeholders who took part in the 43rd TTC Travel Mart in Jakarta said India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal are gaining attention among both leisure and corporate groups from Indonesia. Red Apple Travel said India continues to attract Indonesian leisure travellers, while Sri Lanka shows a stronger potential for high-end MICE groups. Indonesians are attracted by textiles, clothing and jewellery shopping, and Bollywood shooting locations. Cultural attractions, hill landscapes, and beaches in Colombo, Kandy, and Bentota in Sri Lanka are adding appeal to Indonesian visitors. Outbound agents also said there is growing interest in Bhutan and Nepal. The CEO of Destination Tours Indonesia said Bhutan is leading the trend, followed by Nepal, Pakistan, and the Maldives. Couples travelling independently are visiting the Maldives, while Hunza and Skardu in Pakistan generate a seasonal leisure interest. Golden Rama Tours & Travel said India, Nepal, and Bhutan are getting popular for their cultural heritage and scenery. Taj Mahal and Kashmir remain the primary attractions in India, and cliffside monasteries in Bhutan are attracting the visitors according to the General Manager of Communication at Golden Rama Tours & Travel

Album Travel co-founder said more than 70% of their groups to Egypt are from Asia Pacific markets, including Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia, which recorded a consistent growth. He added that the frequency of tour groups from the Asia Pacific has increased from 5 per month a few years ago to nearly 30 per month. However, access to air travel to Cairo has become complicated due to the conflict in the Middle East, since Egypt relies on Middle Eastern carriers. The CEO of Interpoint Tours Travel said flights from North Asian markets such as China and Taiwan have been less affected since there are direct flights by EgyptAir, Sichuan Airlines, and Hainan Airlines. He added that some Indonesian and Malaysian groups are transiting via Shenzhen or Shanghai in China to bypass Middle Eastern airspace. Most of the visitors from the Asia Pacific are first-time visitors who opt for a 7-10 day Egyptian itinerary, which spans 7 to 10 days, including the Pyramids and Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo, and domestic transfer to Aswan for a Nile cruise to Luxor. Both of the travel agencies expressed optimism about arrivals from the Asia Pacific, backed by direct flight options. Album Travel continue to receive requests for winter season bookings from Oct 2026 to Mar 2027, as the period is the high season for travel

1.01 million Indonesians travelled outbound in Jan, +1.65% YoY. The top destinations are Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore

Indonesia has repatriated 7,782 pilgrims since 28 Feb, while 50,000 more are still stranded in Saudi Arabia

Ngurah Rai Immigration Office in Bali has issued 54 emergency stay permits (ITKT) for foreigners due to flight disruptions in the Middle East following the conflict in Iran. ITKT are valid for 30 days and are eligible for an additional 30 days in case the emergency situation continues. Those who apply for ITKT must submit a letter from the airline stating their flight is cancelled or affected. Under Immigration regulations, those overstaying less than 60 days are subject to a daily fine of 1 million IDR, but this will be exempted during the emergency situation. Ngurah Rai Immigration data shows, 4,426 foreigners were affected due to flight cancellations from 28 Feb to 2 Mar

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah are in talks with the Saudi Arabian government to relax hotel rules to help stranded pilgrims in the country. The Ministry also asked Garuda Indonesia to provide price relaxation for airfares so those affected could return home

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah confirmed 6,047 Indonesians who are in Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage have returned to Indonesia from 28 Feb to 1 Mar. 43,363 Umrah pilgrims are planning to leave for Saudi Arabia before the Hajj season on 18 Apr via 439 Umrah travel organisers. Data from the Ministry shows 58,873 Indonesian pilgrims are stranded in Saudi Arabia as of 1 Mar due to the escalating Middle East conflict

South Korea included Indonesia in its visa-free program, with a pilot scheme for group tourists travelling in groups of 3 or more. South Korea also announced waiver of visa fees for group tourists from China, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, and Cambodia, until Dec 2026

The Central Java Regional Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah advised Umrah pilgrims to postpone their travel and said they are waiting for the developments in the situation for the preparation of the Hajj pilgrimage

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah advised Indonesian citizens to delay their Umrah departures following a volatile situation in the Middle East. The Ministry asked all pilgrims in Saudi Arabia to remain calm and avoid panic

South Korea has launched a visa-free pilot scheme for Indonesian tourists travelling to the country in organised groups, under the Visit Korea Year strategy. The travellers could stay for 15 days

The Asia Pacific Regional Director for the Catalan Tourist Board, Spain, said momentum is building across Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, for MICE travel to the region. He noted that Japan, Australia, and South Korea remain the largest APAC feeder markets for MICE travel. In 2025, Catalonia recorded 25,000 Japanese MICE visitors — about seven times the number of Indonesian visitors, which stood at 3,850 arrivals. However, Japanese arrivals have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels, while Indonesia has surpassed them. Indonesian MICE arrivals reached 3,850 in 2025, compared with 1,510 in 2023. This growth is attributed to Indonesian corporates offering long-haul reward programmes more aggressively than some North Asian markets. The Philippines was also among the leading source markets in 2024, with 4,080 arrivals. Singaporean arrivals declined to 2,700 in 2025, from 6,590 in 2024 and 2,870 in 2023. The Malaysian market fell to 2,700 in 2025, from 3,430 in 2024, while 2,330 arrivals were recorded in 2023. The Catalan Tourist Board added that Singaporean MICE groups tend to stay in one city and conduct activities there, especially when group sizes reach up to 80 people. Indonesian MICE groups, meanwhile, tend to stay in one city per day. Christian religious groups from the Philippines, ranging from 20 to 1,000 participants, often continue their tour to other parts of Spain after their Catalonia trip

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is committed to ensuring optimal care and protection for Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, including those who fall ill during transit. The Minister said they will provide assistance to pilgrims facing legal issues in Saudi Arabia or transit countries