Indonesia

President Prabowo has guaranteed food self-sufficiency in rice, corn and protein

Jakarta is planning to open a train station at Jakarta International Stadium, which is expected to boost its accessibility for large-scale events

The Minister of Tourism has said that sporting events are driving tourism, noting that they have an average spend of $1,500 USD per trip. The Ministry will support the 2026 Geopark Run Series, a run taking place in 4 national parks: Ijen, Minang, Ciletuh and Belitong. It will start in mid-Aug at Ijen, and finish in April 2027 in Belitung

The Indonesian Ministry of Immigration and Corrections said the Golden Visa will be a good solution for global talents and the diaspora looking to contribute to Indonesia’s economy. The visa policy was launched in 2024 with a 5 to 10-year stay. As of 18 May, 1,274 visas have been issued under the Golden Visa scheme, with investments reaching 52.1 trillion IDR

The Bali Governor wrote an open letter to tourists thanking them for paying the Bali Tourism Tax Levy and asked all tourists to comply with guidelines when visiting Bali. Bali is entering the peak travel season, with over 60,000 people visiting the island daily

Bali Zoo introduced a new elephant program with a focus on education and animal welfare, after ending the elephant riding activities in early 2026. Visitors can observe elephants in a more natural environment through guided tours led by zoo rangers and mahouts

The Association of Indonesian Travel Agents (ASTINDO) organised the ASTINDO Nusantara Travel Exchange (ANTX) 2026, a B2B tourism event at Grand Saudi Jaya Hotel Jakarta on 18 May. There were tabletop business matching sessions, networking sessions, and presentations from strategic partners, including Easy Link and IATA. Over 180 travel agents took part in the event. During the event, ASTINDO signed an MoU with El John Media Group and PT Gapura Angkasa to strengthen tourism collaboration in Indonesia

Bank Indonesia increased its benchmark interest rate by 50 basis points (bps) as part of an effort to stabilise the IDR from depreciation. The Governor stated this move is a “pre-emptive measure” to ensure inflation is within the government’s target range of 2.5% (+-1%) in 2025 and 2027. IDR increased to around 17,600 IDR against the USD after reaching 17,800 on 19 May, a record low

Indonesia is targeting to provide electricity access to 8,000 unelectrified locations by 2029, reaching remote villages and underserved regions, according to Energy Ministry officials. In 2025, 1,500 locations connected to electricity networks

The President announced the government is looking for an economic growth at 5.8% to 6.5% in 2027, and reaching the target of 8% growth by 2029. The President told the Parliament on 20 May that they set the deficit for 2027 at 1.8% to 2.4% of GDP, below the legal cap of 3%. The IDR is projected to trade between 16,800 and 17,500 per USD in 2027

The Tourism Minister listed three major challenges during the National Tourism Coordination Meeting in Jakarta on 20 May. The challenges are geopolitical conflict in the Middle East, shifting market trends, and climate change. She added that domestically, tourism businesses are facing challenges such as the development of tourism business models, limited infrastructure, and safety practices in tourism activities. To address these challenges, the Ministry has prepared 5 initiatives, such as improving tourism safety, developing tourist villages, improving quality tourism, Events by Indonesia, and Tourism 5.0. Tourism 5.0 will help the tourists to find personalised tours through digital platforms

Indonesia has increased monitoring measures at its international entry points following the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) declaration of the Ebola outbreak in Africa as an international health emergency. The government is coordinating with hospitals and public health agencies to improve early detection and response capacities

Indonesian rupiah has dropped to 17,600 IDR per USD last week, past its worst performance of 16,800 IDR recorded during the 1998 monetary crisis. The Governor of Bank Indonesia was questioned in parliament over the depreciation of the IDR, and some members of Parliament even called for his resignation. The President, however, downplayed the concern and stated the food and energy supplies for Indonesia are secured

Agoda’s 2026 Travel Outlook survey shows that 69% of Indonesians are choosing family travel as the top choice, higher than Asia’s average of 52%, followed by Vietnam (61%), Malaysia (59%), Taiwan (58%) the Philippines (55%), Thailand (50%), South Korea (50%), India (40%), and Japan (32%)

The Ministry of Villages and Development of Disadvantaged Regions encourages the development of the Tourism Village program in the Anyer-Carita-Cinangka area in Banten. The Minister attended the opening of a resort in Carita Sub-district, Serang District, Banten on 17 May. The tourism villages being developed will collaborate with several hotels in the area to offer tour packages to attract visitors

The Ministry of Religious Affairs announced that Eid al-Adha 2026 will be observed on 27 May

Bali collected 369 billion IDR in 2025 from the Bali Tourism Tax Levy. 96% of the levy was paid before the tourist flew to Bali. Bali Governor said they are working with partners, including central government ministries, international airlines, and Online Travel Agent (OTA) companies such as Trip.com, Tiket.com, Traveloka, Agoda, and Booking.com, to expand the socialisation of the policy. In 2024, only 2.1 million out of 6.3 million international tourists or 32%, paid the levy, totalling 318 billion IDR. All levy fees collected will be deposited directly into the Bali Provincial Government’s account before being redistributed to the regional treasury. The funds are being used to support the preservation of Balinese culture, environmental protection, and the development of tourism infrastructure. The Bali Tourism Tax Levy funds have been audited by the Supreme Audit Agency

Data from Agoda shows that Indonesian travellers are choosing short domestic travel during the Labour Day holiday to destinations with nature, culture, and easy accessibility. Yogyakarta recorded 61% YoY increase in accommodation searchers, followed by Surakarta, +117% YoY, Bandung (+61%), Malang (+35%), Semarang (+60%), Puncak (+192%), and Bogor (+70%)

PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry (Persero) has strengthened its ferry services on the Ajibata-Ambarita route, Lake Toba, North Sumatra, for a smooth mobility of tourists during the long Ascension Day holiday from 14 to 17 May. The General Manager of the company said that from Jan-Apr 2026, the route recorded 106,856 passengers and 28,125 vehicles. The company also operates several other routes such as Balige–Onanrunggu–Muara via KMP Kaldera Toba, Sibolga–Gunung Sitoli, and the Telukdalam–Tello Island route

The BBWI Travel Fair x BINA 2026 was held at Tunjungan Plaza in Surabaya, East Java, from 15-17 May, highlighting domestic travel. The fair was held under the theme School Holiday Stories, and traditional booths were replaced by an immersive, interactive Kampung Main Indonesia (Indonesian Playground) booth. The event was organised by the Ministry of Tourism and the Indonesian Shopping Centre Tenants and Retailers Association (HIPPINDO) through its Shop in Indonesia Only (BINA) program, and supported by the East Java Province Culture and Tourism Agency

Deputy Minister of Manpower said the government is committed to preventing layoffs triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. He added they will take precautionary measures against any potential layoffs. The unemployment rate is currently at 4.3%, equivalent to 7.4 million people. The government will increase the participant quota for the National Internship Program from 100,000 to 150,000 people in 2026. The government is offering 70,000 slots for national vocational training programs for senior high school and vocational high school graduates in the job training centres

Jakarta is looking at Cannes, France, to develop an economic model driven by tourism and creative events. The Cannes Film Festival attracts 45,000 visitors annually. The tourism sector in Cannes contribute 40% of its economy. The Jakarta Deputy Governor led a delegation to meet the Cannes Deputy Mayor in Cannes on 14 May. He added Jakarta is interested in establishing cooperation with the Cannes government to increase Jakarta’s international exposure, though capacity-building programs

Indonesia will review its visa-free policy for Southeast Asian countries following arrests of over 500 foreigners who ran illegal gambling and scam operations in Batam, Riau Islands Province. Those arrested were from Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Laos, and Myanmar, who all entered Indonesia via the 30-day visa-free scheme

Bali Airport is increasing biosecurity measures to ensure the passengers are safe from the outbreak of Hantavirus. The World Health Organisation has issued statements stating the outbreak is not like COVID-19 and is not the beginning of another pandemic. The Airport Management and the Denpasar Health Quarantine Centre (BBKK) have increased health screening for passengers arriving in Bali. The Head of Communication and Legal Division at I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport said BBKK Denpasar has installed two thermal scanners in the international arrivals terminal and one in the domestic arrivals area

During the Indonesia Tourism Xchange 2026 (ITX 2026) at The Langham, Jakarta, STR, the hotel analytics division of CoStar Group revealed that luxury hotel occupancy in Indonesia from Apr 2025 to Mar 2026 reached pre-pandemic levels, outperforming other hotel classes, which are still 5.5 percentage points below their previous highs. Indonesia’s hotel rates have increased by more than 40% since 2019, supported by market maturation and new high-end hotel supply. Luxury hotels in Bali posted strong growth, driven by international demand and diverse source markets. C9 Hotelsworks research shows branded residences reached 707 trillion IDR ($40 billion USD) across 50,025 units, +30.3% YoY. Indonesia accounts for 24.7 trillion IDR ($1.4 billion USD) across 1,145 units. Bali accounts for 25% of the country’s branded residences, with over 70 active hospitality-managed developments, and branded residences account for 10% of the active supply. Canggu/Berawa has 1,703 units across 25 properties, followed by Uluwatu, Seseh/Pererenan/Nyany, Seminyak, and Sanur

E&C Productions and TTG Events will host the first Indonesia Business Event Mart (IBEM) and the Southeast Asia Business Events Forum (SEABEF) from 28-31 Jul at the Jakarta International Convention Centre, with the support of the Tourism Ministry. The event is expected to host 250 international buyers and 200 sellers

Samara Lombok, planned for South Lombok, will be the first Destination by Hyatt-branded hotel in Southeast Asia. The development will open its 3 boutique hotels and 150 of 500 villas in Q1 2028. Samara Lombok also includes 12 dining concepts. The Indonesian government designated Lombok as a Super Priority Tourism Destination, and received $3.2 billion USD public investment, including the airport and road networks to Mandalika

The Tourism Minister monitored the readiness for Raja Ampat’s UNESCO Global Geopark status revalidation process by a UNESCO assessor team in Aug 2026. She visited the Piaynemo Geosite on 12 May

Singapore’s Foreign Minister met with the Indonesian Foreign Minister to thank the over 150 Indonesian rescuers who worked to recover the bodies of Singaporean victims who were killed on Mount Dukono

The Soekarno-Hatta (Soetta) International Airport's Quarantine and Health Agency is monitoring travellers arriving from countries reporting Hantavirus cases — the US, Argentina, Uruguay, and Panama. They will revise the list accordingly if there are any new developments. The airport has already implemented preparation measures, and from the health declaration form on the Satu Sehat application, they can identify flights with high-risk passengers

The Bali Governor received the Governor of Siquijor, Philippines, and shared tourism strategies of Bali. He said culture, nature, and the hospitality of the Balinese people are the main strengths of the island

Indonesia is planning ex-situ conservation efforts to protect the komodo dragon outside its natural habitat. The management of Komodo National Park as a natural habitat will remain a priority. The ex-situ site will serve as an education space, offering knowledge-based tourism experiences. The Komodo National Park Agency (BTNK) in West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, has limited tourists' visits to 1,000 per day and welcomed 429,509 tourists in 2025, and international visitors account for 68% of the total. The national park authority said visitor arrivals in 2025m exceeded the annual tourism carrying capacity of 378,870 visitors, based on a 2022 study

The 12th Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF 2026) will be held from 28-30 May at the Bali International Convention Centre at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua. The Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies Bali Region will organise the event under the theme of “Redefining Indonesia’s Gastronomy Journey: A Celebration of Taste, Culture, and Sustainable Heritage”

Danantara is considering increasing its stake in PT GoTo Gojek Tokopedia, as part of its long-term prospects. Currently, Danantara holds less than 1% of GoTo’s shares

The Health Ministry announced a foreign national who had a close contact with a hantavirus patient who was in MV Hondius has tested negative. The individual was on the same flight with the patient from Saint Helena to Johannesburg. The man is still under close observation at Jakarta’s Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital, although his condition is stable

Bali Governor is asking for more investment to be made in tourism infrastructure development on the island. He added that the regional budget (APBD) alone is not sufficient for infrastructure development, and asked for funds to be allocated from the state budget (APBN). Bali’s regional budget stands at around 6.8 trillion IDR, while Bali’s local revenue is around 4.5 trillion IDR. The Governor is targeting to complete 70% of its connectivity infrastructure project by 2029, before his term ends in 2030. Among the projects he wants to be completed by 2030 are the Singaraja–Mengwitani Shortcut Road, the Tohpati and Pesanggaran underpasses, the Karangasem-Buleleng connecting road, and the Ida Bagus Mantra Bypass on the Kusamba-Padangbai section. The central government has allocated funds for the new Nusa Ceningan and Nusa Lembongan bridge, worth 112 billion IDR; construction of a parking building in the Ulun Danu Batur tourist attraction at around 250 billion IDR; and the construction of a clean water and irrigation network in the Kubu District, Karangasem, for 90 billion IDR

The Tourism Ministry’s data shows tourist arrivals from the Middle East dropped by 9.51% YoY, from Europe dropped by 8.5% YoY, and visitors from America slowed to 1.55%. Visitors from these regions usually spend more and will stay longer compared to visitors from other regions. Average tourist expenditure in the Q1 2026 reached $1,345.61 USD per visit, according to Statistics Indonesia. Accommodation accounts for 37.23% of spending, followed by food and beverages at 20.17%, while shopping and souvenirs contributed 11.06%. Visitors from Oceania increased by 19.32% YoY, +18.84% from Southeast Asia, and +8.03% from other Asian regions

Six Singaporean tourists were reported injured on 9 May after the minibus they were travelling in was involved in an accident in East Java, Indonesia. The accident, which involved 3 other vehicles, could be due to brake failure, according to the Indonesian media. The victims received consular assistance, and they were travelling on a mountainous tourist route in Ngadas Village in Probolinggo from Mount Bromo

Indonesia recovered and evacuated the bodies of two Singaporean hikers killed in the eruption of Mount Dukono in Halmahera Island. The authorities have brought down 17 other hikers, including 7 Singaporeans, safely. The body of an Indonesian hiker was discovered on 9 May. Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency BNPB said that with the recovery of the victims, the search and rescue operation has been concluded. BNPB stated that the Tourism Office of North Halmahera Regency Government announced a total closure of climbing activities on Mount Dukono from 17 Apr, prohibiting all operators from issuing climbing permits to anyone. North Halmahera Police Chief said several local guides face probe and legal action for bringing the hikers close to the crater, despite the 4km radius closed for any activities

The Tourism Ministry has extended the deadline to 31 May for the accommodations listed on OTA platforms to get a license. The Tourism Minister said there are 470,000 accommodations across 9 OTA platforms, but only 31,233 have a Business Identification Number (NIB) and the Indonesian Standard Business Classification (KBLI) as of 4 May. As of 30 Apr, 98,507 tourism accommodation businesses obtained their permits through the Online Single Submission (OSS) system, +43.12% compared to when the restructuring started on 31 Mar

Indonesia is re-looking at its visa-free policies for certain countries to safeguard against scam operators

The Brunei Darussalam–Indonesia–Malaysia–Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) adopted the Vision 2035 during the ASEAN Summit in Cebu, which has a goal of growing international tourist arrivals by 100% by 2035 between the four countries. The four countries will boost their talks on tourism cooperation on a monthly basis, discussing airports, seaports and tourism site development

Bali announced plans to establish itself as a world-leading financial centre, with the new Kura Kura Special Economic Zone (SEZ). The SEZ will be located near Sanur and Denpasar City. The Minister for Economic Affairs led a team for a site visit at the SEZ. Indonesia is slated to become the 4th largest economy in the world alongside China, India, and the US by 2050. The Kura Kura SEZ in Bali will help to achieve the target. Kura Kura SEZ will integrate seamlessly with the Sanur SEZ, including the medical and wellness facilities. The team visited Sira Village - Grand Outlet Bali, one of the flagship projects of the Kura Kura SEZ, in collaboration with PT Bali Turtle Island Development (BTID) and Mitsubishi Estate. The project is 92% complete and will have a soft opening in mid-2026. The Kura Kura SEZ recorded a total investment of 1.62 trillion IDR by the end of Apr 2026, created jobs for over 2,146 people and welcomed 279,804 tourist visits

Vio Travel’s (Asia Pacific online DMC) Indonesia operations are set to be certified under the Preferred by Nature Standard for Sustainable Travel Activities by Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC). The company operated across 15 countries in the Asia Pacific region

Bank Indonesia (BI) Deputy Governor stated that they will expand the Indonesia-China cross-border QRIS payment to include WeChat Pay. The cross-border payment link, which allows IDR and CNY to transact directly under the local currency transaction (LCT) scheme, was initially only made available for Alipay and UnionPay. During the trial period, the Indonesia-China QRIS recorded more than 1.6 million inbound transactions worth 550 billion IDR and 8,900 outbound transactions worth 6.4 billion IDR

Widespread fuel shortages, which were reported in Riau last week, have spread to Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan and Balikpapan in East Kalimantan. Several gas stations operated by Pertamina in Palangkaraya reported their non-subsidised RON 92 fuel has run out

Indonesia’s Planning Minister said that the country is targeting economic growth between 5.9% and 7.5% in 2027, driven by investment, higher productivity, and industry. For Q1 2026, the economy recorded 5.61% YoY growth, its fastest in over 3 years

Tiket.com, Artotel Group, and Rumah Atsiri Indonesia will work together to develop sustainable travel experiences. This will be done under the Tiket Green movement, a sustainability-focused program to promote eco-conscious travel by identifying and supporting tourism partners who implement responsible environmental practices. Tiket Green has over 8,000 sustainable accommodation options across Indonesia and Southeast Asia as of 2025. The Tiket Travel Industry Outlook 2026 report shows: 63% of travellers are familiar with sustainable travel concepts 67% have stayed in eco-friendly accommodation 69% want to contribute to the environment 49% want to support local communities 41% want to seek more meaningful experiences

Preferred Hotels & Resorts has expanded its global portfolio with 20 properties in Q1 2026, including Ametis Villa Bali in Canggu with 14 private villas

The Thai Ambassador to Indonesia met with the Indonesian Tourism Minister to discuss cooperation in the wellness tourism industry. But the discussion is yet to reach a bilateral cooperation status, and is still in an exploratory status. He believes both countries can find common ground for collaboration and produce beneficial cooperation for both countries. The Ambassador stated the wellness sector in Thailand has developed to include beauty treatments, cosmetic surgery, and anti-ageing (longevity) programs

Batam City, in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), is looking to develop Batam Botanical Gardens into an ecotourism icon in Riau Islands province. The gardens, which were established in 2014, are located in 86 hectares of hilly land and are designed as a conservation centre for plants. The gardens welcomed 5,000 visitors per month on average

Trip.com Group data showed that multi-city travel in Asia-Pacific rose by 35% YoY during the Labour Day period. Over 30% of international trips now include multiple destinations. Bangkok-Phuket is among the most popular multi-city routes. Demand for multi-destination travel in Thailand recorded a 52% increase, Malaysia 40%, and Singapore 17%. Key outbound destinations from Southeast Asian markets include Japan, South Korea, China, Thailand, and Indonesia. Key cities include Tokyo, Osaka, Seoul, Shanghai, Beijing, Bangkok, and Bali

The Deputy Chairman of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) confirmed that top-end hotels have pooled funds to manage organic waste by purchasing waste processing equipment. The waste management sector in Bali is struggling with the mixture of organic and non-organic waste. The problems are expected to be solved if the organic wastes are processed into compost. Due to the partial closure of Suwung TPA, the largest landfill in Bali, locals are burning waste to manage it

Statistics Indonesia reported 3.44 million international visitors, +8.62% YoY, and 319.51 million domestic trips, +13.14% YoY, in Q1 2026. In Mar 2026 alone, Indonesia welcomed 3.44 million international visitors, +8.62% YoY, and 126.43 million domestic trips, +42.1% YoY. Malaysia is the top source market with 186,530 visitors in Mar 2026, 17.14% of total arrivals. During the Eid al-Fitr season: 48.14 million people used train transportation, +17.76% YoY Domestic air transportation reached 5.62 million passengers (+32.35% YoY) Domestic sea transport reached 3.12 million passengers (+26.72% YoY) International air travel increased to 1.54 million passengers (+8.14% YoY) Ferry transportation reached 7.06 million passengers (+72.73% YoY)

Moody’s Analytics stated Indonesia’s economic growth in Q1 2026 slowed to 5.1%

The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) is collaborating with Boeing to launch the Boeing University Innovation Leadership Development (BUILD) program at ITB's Ganesha Campus in Bandung. The program will be held until Sep 2026, including workshops, mentoring sessions, bootcamps, and idea incubation. This program will build an innovation ecosystem to connect students, young alumni, and startups with the global aerospace industry. BUILD will encourage integrating internships, industry-based research, and the development of superior materials, including using national resources like nickel for advanced technology

The Defence Ministers of Indonesia and Japan signed a cooperation agreement on 4 May. The cooperation covers collaboration in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, joint exercises, and maritime cooperation

Pertamina, BP-AKR, and Vivo Energy Indonesia have increased prices for nonsubsidised fuels such as high-octane gasoline and diesel at all gas stations. The price for subsidised RON 92 will remain the same

The Tourism Ministry will launch the 2026 Tourism Safety Program to improve the safety standards of tourist destinations. The Ministry will also standardise safety procedures for tourists while making Indonesia’s tourism competitiveness on the global stage

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

Artotel Group opens Artotel Leguna Magelang, Central Java, with 111 rooms

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