Indonesia

President Prabowo ordered a cap on ride-hailing driver commissions of 8%, from the previous 20%, but did not note when the regulation will take effect from. It will also mandate ride-hailing companies to provide accident and health insurance

TUI Hotels & Resorts is set to open Mora Singapore in Sep 2026, its first brand in Asia. The hotel is located within the Labrador Nature Reserve, featuring 20 guest rooms and suites, an executive lounge, a bar, and two restaurants. After launching the brand in Singapore, The Mora Munduk is set to open in Bali, Indonesia

The President warns that the global conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza and the Middle East are driving up prices of food and energy in Indonesia. He said Indonesia need to take steps to strengthen its economic foundations to reduce the impact of global conflict

The Foreign Policy chief of the European Union called on Southeast Asian countries not to turn to Russia for oil supplies as the fuel shortages continue due to the Middle East conflict. She added that Russia has benefited from the conflict in the Middle East. She also said that the EU is looking for ASEAN’s cooperation for its sanctions against Russia. She added purchasing Russian oil will allow the country to continue its war against Ukraine

The Bali Governor met with the Turkish Ambassador to discuss ways to work together to improve visitors’ experience. Turkish Airlines offers over 10 weekly flights between Istanbul and Denpasar. This route is expected to be in demand as it provides an alternative route, since the Middle East conflict has affected aviation hubs in the region

The Rinjani-Lombok Geopark retained its UNESCO Global Geopark (UGG) Green Card status for the second time, extending the designation for another 4 years, following a rigorous revalidation process

PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) confirmed 6 commuter line passengers were killed in an accident involving a collision between two trains, and 80 people were injured. KAI stated all 240 passengers travelling in the long-distance Argo Bromo Anggrek train survived the accident

Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) Minister is looking to implement B50 biodiesel and E20 bioethanol programs as part of an effort to achieve national energy self-sufficiency and reduce diesel imports. The mandatory B50 biodiesel program will take effect from 1 Jul, and is expected to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 4 million kilolitres and save 157.28 trillion IDR in foreign exchange annually by 2026

Jakarta residents are demanding reliable electricity after a blackout hit parts of the city on 23 Apr for 2-4 hours, the second blackout in the month

Bali residents are increasingly concerned about waste collections on the island, with the latest regulation limiting the amount of waste that can be sent to the main landfill, Suwung, before it closes entirely on 1 Aug. This has led to burning of trash, as well as dumping it in the streets, due to no other options

Deputy Tourism Minister stated the 2026 Deep and Extreme Indonesia (DXI) exhibition is an important opportunity to improve Indonesia’s position as a world-class adventure tourism destination. The 18th DXI 2026 was held at the JICC Senayan, Jakarta, on 23-26 Apr. She added that 75% of tourists visiting Indonesia consider nature tourism as their primary attraction, of which 65% choose coastal and marine tourism. Marine tourism contributed 32% to 42% of total national tourism economic activity or 1.5% to 2% to the GDP

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry said that it will not impose a levy for ships crossing the Malacca Strait, as it would be against international law in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Over 200 vessels transit the Strait of Malacca daily, with up to 90,000 ships in a year, or a quarter of global traded goods

Russia will supply 150 million barrels of oil to Indonesia. The Indonesian President visited Moscow on 23 Apr and met with the Russian President, together with Indonesia’s special envoy for energy and environment, where they discussed improving the partnership in the energy sector. Indonesia imports 20% to 25% of its crude oil from the Middle East, passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Russia will supply 100 million barrels of oil at a special rate, and another 50 million barrels if needed

The Tourism Ministry and the National Professional Certification Agency (BNSP) have released a tourism professional guide for 483 national occupational schemes in 34 tourism sectors. The Tourism Minister said as of Aug 2025, the tourism sector employs 25.91 million workers

The Finance Minister proposed an idea to impose a levy on ships passing through the Malacca Strait to maximise Indonesia’s position along trade and energy routes, taking a similar approach to Iran, which is charging for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. He added that this proposal needs support from Malaysia and Singapore. However, Singaporean Foreign Affairs Ministers stressed that shipping lanes through the Malacca and Singapore straits must remain open to all, as the “right of transit passage” is guaranteed for all ships. He added that Malacca, Singapore, and the Hormuz straits are used for international navigation and codified under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

Bank Indonesia will retain its benchmark interest rate for IDR at 4.75% to protect IDR from ongoing depreciation, driven by the Middle East conflict. IDR weakened to 17,193 IDR per USD on 22 Apr vs 16,765 IDR per USD on 28 Feb

Ascott signed 7,300 units across Southeast Asia in 2025, +55% YoY. Ascott operates over 200 properties in the region, with another 150 properties in the planning and 25 new properties slated to open in the next 12 months. Ascott will expand into 20 new cities, including Phu Quoc and Nha Trang in Vietnam, Phuket and Hat Yai in Thailand, Labuan Bajo and Medan in Indonesia, Davao and Binan in the Philippines, and Johor Bahru and Langkawi in Malaysia. 30% of the project will be delivered through conversions. The key projects which will be rebranded are Bayview properties in Penang and Langkawi, to Ascott Batu Feringghi Penang, Oakwood Georgetown Penang and FOX Hotel Langkawi by 2028. The conversion also will involve Citadines Mitra Bandung, Oakwood Pandanaran Semarang, and Fox Hotel Nagoya Batam, which will be opening in one year

The Tourism Minister reaffirmed that Indonesia is committed to speeding up the development of Attractions, Accessibility, and Amenities (3A) and ensuring master plan synchronisation for the Lake Toba Super Priority Destination (SPD) to achieve integrated development of the area. She visited Lake Toba and discussed plans to develop new attractions with the Regent of Simalungun and other officials

The Bali Spirit Festival, as part of ‘Wellness Indonesia Global’, was held in Bali from 15-19 Apr, under the theme “Welcome Home” featuring yoga, dance, music, and traditional healing practices. The event was the largest yoga and fitness festival in Southeast Asia. In 2025, the event generated 6.7 billion IDR in economic revenue

Indonesia has secured imports of crude oil from Russia during a bilateral visit to Russia by President Prabowo this week, with talks on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) close to being finalised

Jakarta is targeting a 50% emissions cut by 2030 through faster adoption of EVs

Indonesia and Qatar are looking to explore cooperation to develop sports academies and expand sports tourism. The Sports Minister of Indonesia discussed the matter with the Qatar Ambassador in Jakarta

The Anantara Dragon Seseh Bali Resort & Residence is being developed in Seseh, near Canggu, Bali and is expected to open in 2028 with 235 rooms

The Tourism Ministry’s Deputy for Marketing said they will shift focus to short-haul markets, especially the ASEAN market, and promote domestic tourism to protect the tourism industry from the impact of the Middle East conflict. Data from Statistics Indonesia shows, ASEAN market accounts for 41.3% of the 15.39 million total foreign arrivals in 2025

Indonesian tourism players will host the Indonesia Tourism Xchange 2026 (ITX 2026) on 12 May at the Langham, Jakarta, which gathers hotel owners, operators, investors, and senior decision-makers to discuss the tourism economy in Indonesia. This event is organised by Horwath HTL, C9 Hotelworks, STR, QUO Global, Greenview, and Delivering Asia, in partnership with Langham Hospitality Group and supported by the Jakarta Hotels Association, PHRI Indonesia, and the Bali Hotels Association

Bali is deploying a new Immigration Task Force Team called the Dharma Dewata Task Force to ensure the safety of the tourists and crack down on illegal and unruly behaviour. In addition to this task force, the Indonesian Immigration launched Village Guidance Immigration Officers (PIMPASA) in Bali, to take a community-based approach, involving village officials and community leaders

Indonesian Defense Minister met with the U.S. Secretary of Defense to discuss boosting defense cooperation

The Harapan Kita Heart and Blood Vessel Hospital (RSJPD) in Jakarta has been designated as the largest cardiovascular hub for education and research in Asia by the Ministry of Health and the Tokushukai Medical Group of Japan

The Forestry Ministry limited visitors to Komodo National Park to 1,000 per day, or 365,000 per year, from 1 Apr to prevent overtourism, which could damage the environment. In 2025, the park recorded 429,509 visitors, of which 68% were international arrivals

The Foreign Ministry announced that they are considering an overflight proposal announced by the US, but it stated that Indonesia doesn’t have a policy to grant unrestricted access to its airspace to a foreign party. The Ministry warned the Defence Ministry that giving a blanket right to the US to use Indonesian airspace will put Indonesia at risk of a potential South China Sea conflict. Indonesia’s Defence Minister and the US Secretary of Defence signed a defence cooperation partnership on 13 Apr

The Tourism Ministry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Indonesia discussed South Korea’s travel advisory to Bali. The embassy has clarified and apologised for the advisory, and said it was posted due to an error by the Consul General of the Republic of Korea. The Embassy has updated the travel advisory with general details and removed the details of cases involving foreigners in Bali

Danantara will make investments in Labuan Bajo to support tourism development and economic growth in eastern Indonesia. Danatara will collaborate with Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), an existing investor, for the project

The Secretary General of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) stated that some regions, such as Yogyakarta, recorded a slower growth compared to 2025 for the Eid al-Fitr travel period. He added tourists staying at hotels only peaked on 22-23 Mar, before dropping sharply by 62%-65% on the following day, including in Yogyakarta, West Java, and Central Java. He added that the Eid al-Fitr holiday in Bali “wasn’t optimal”. He attributed it to a weak spending power, partly due to the extreme weather. In 2025, the peak season lasted 3-4 days, especially in Java. However, hotel occupancy rates in Pangandaran, West Java reached 95% to 98%, and West Sumatra recorded 80% to 90% occupancy during the 20-30 Mar period

The Economy Minister stated Indonesia could outlast the Middle East conflict impact, which increased the fuel prices. Indonesia has sufficient funds to continue to offer fuel subsidies for as long as 10 months

Indonesian President has departed for Moscow, Russia, to meet with the Russian President to discuss global issues

Despite officially closing Suwung TPA (TPS3R) on 1 Apr to stop receiving organic waste, concerns were raised that the landfill was still accepting organic waste. It is Bali’s largest landfill, receiving 65% of all the waste produced in Bali. The Acting Head of the Badung Environment and Forestry Agency said the central government has permitted them to still dispose of specific waste sent from the sea to the landfill. The Head of the Bali Waste Self-Management Forum added that TPS3Rs is struggling to cope, and other landfill sites such as Padangsambian, Kertalangu, and Tahura are also overwhelmed by waste. There are reports of an increase in illegal trash dumping in communities across Bali, and an increase in trash burning as well in Bali. The leaders are considering using former quarries while waiting for the Waste to Energy facilities to open

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is expecting weak to moderate intensity of El Nino in Q3 2026. The phenomenon typically brings hotter and drier conditions, which extend the dry season and reduce rainfall across Indonesia. The dry season is expected to be drier than the 30-year average and drier than 2023. BMKG Director for Climate Change added that the dry seasons of 1997 and 2015 were more severe

Deputy Tourism Minister stated wellness tourism has become their priority program to increase tourist arrivals to Indonesia. Indonesia has several cities which serve as wellness tourism destinations such as Bali, Yogyakarta, and Solo

Indonesia’s Finance Minister has called the World Bank’s downgrade of its 2026 GDP from 4.8% to 4.7% as a “serious mistake”, saying that it doesn’t reflect government data

The Tourism Minister reported Indonesia welcomed 1.16 million international arrivals in Feb 2026, +13.37% YoY, and in total welcomed 2.35 million from Jan-Feb 2026, +7.77% YoY. For Feb arrivals, Malaysia is the top source market, followed by China, Singapore, Australia, and Timor-Leste. Indonesia recorded 91.14 million domestic trips in Feb 2026, +0.7% YoY. From Jan-Feb 2026, Indonesia recorded 193.17 million domestic trips, -0.17% YoY. From 13-29 Mar, for the Eid al-Fitr travel period, domestic trips to 10 Priority Tourism Destinations and three Regenerative Tourism Destinations reached 12.77 million, +18.8% YoY

Bali will host a fun run event as part of the ‘Road To 100 Years of Bali Tourism’ celebration. Over 20,000 people are expected to take part in the event. The event will cover 5 and 10 kilometres options from the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces area. Bali will host the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series in Nusa Penida from 20 to 23 May

Ferry services from Batam, Riau Island, Indonesia, have been reduced to manage fuel costs. The Batam Centre International Ferry Terminal reservation officer said ferry services between Batam-HarbourFront have dropped from 16 to 12, while services to Tanah Merah dropped from 9 to 4. Batam Fast, a ferry service provider, has cut its services by 40%. All ferry services will implement a fuel surcharge of $6 SGD ($4.71 USD) for passengers departing from Singapore and 65,000 IDR ($3.82 USD) for passengers departing Batam. However, passenger arrivals from Singapore to Batam are growing, with Singaporeans accounting for the vast majority of the 257,928 arrivals to Batam in Jan and Feb 2026. Batam welcomed 131,306 arrivals in Feb 2026, +3.7% MoM from 126,620 in Jan 2026, and +24.5% YoY. The majority of Singaporeans visit Batam to buy daily necessities at a cheaper cost. A member of the House of Representatives Commission for Tourism is concerned about potential competition between local residents and Singaporeans for basic necessities such as rice, cooking oil, and others. He said Singaporeans have a higher purchasing power and spend around $300 USD per trip in Batam, which is equivalent to the minimum wage in Batam

Bali Police has assured they will ensure the safety of tourists in the island, following a travel advisory from the South Korean embassy citing crimes such as murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault in Jimbaran, Seminyak, and Canggu. The Chief of Bali Regional Police Inspector has acknowledged the concerns raised by Seoul. Data from the police shows a 23% YoY drop in crimes involving foreign nationals from Jan-Apr 2026. Bali police recently carried out operations which uncovered 166 criminal cases and led to 181 arrests, mainly related to theft and violent crime

The Chairman of the Bali Travel Agencies Association (ASITA) said they are targeting more international visitors from Central Asia, such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, following dynamic changes due to the Middle East conflict. In the last 12 months, Thailand and Vietnam have collectively welcomed 300,000 foreign tourists from Kazakhstan, while only 20,000 visited Indonesia, especially Bali. The connectivity between Central Asia and Southeast Asia is growing, with major travel hubs like Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. He said, “This is our hope, so we are always coordinating with the ministry to ensure this potential market niche can be truly explored and direct flights, or at least commercial flights, can be established.” He also added that they are working with the Foreign Affairs and Tourism Ministries for this. Bali is looking to become a major international travel hub like Singapore or Bangkok

Bank Indonesia (BI) Senior Deputy Governor stated that they have intervened to ensure the stability of the Indonesian Rupiah to avoid excessive volatility. On 7 Apr, IDR weakened by 0.35% to 17,090 IDR per USD. IDR has dropped more than 2% against the USD in 2026

East Java Province and Uzbekistan are strengthening bilateral cooperation in the cultural and religious tourism sectors. Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Indonesia, Samarkand Governor, and Samarkand Deputy Governor visited Surabaya and met with Islamic scholars and academics from both countries. The East Java administration is encouraging opening direct flights from Indonesia to Samarkand or Tashkent