Jakarta, Indonesia Sentinel — Indonesia’s tourism sector recorded strong growth in the first half of 2025, signaling that government programs are on track to boost the industry.
The report was unveiled by Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana during the ministry’s monthly briefing on Saturday. “The positive trend is reflected in cumulative performance from January to June 2025, where domestic tourism outpaced outbound travel,” Widiyanti said.
She said the results were driven by collaboration across ministries and agencies, accelerating the rollout of national tourism programs.
According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), foreign tourist arrivals reached 7.05 million in the January–June period, up 9.44% year-on-year, led by visitors from ASEAN countries, followed by travelers from other parts of Asia and Europe.
Inbound tourism outperformed outbound travel, with international arrivals up 9.44% compared to 3.25% growth in Indonesians traveling abroad, which totaled 4.57 million trips. This created a tourism service surplus, Widiyanti noted.
“In the first half of 2025, foreign arrivals once again exceeded outbound trips, with a gap of 2.48 million, up from 2.01 million in the same period last year. This contributed positively to Indonesia’s foreign exchange earnings,” she said.
In June alone, foreign arrivals rose 18.20% year-on-year to 1.42 million. Domestic tourism also surged, with 105.12 million trips, up 25.93%. By contrast, outbound trips fell 15.02% to 727,560.
Tourism’s rebound has also supported broader economic growth. Indonesia’s economy expanded 5.12% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, compared with 5.05% in the same period a year earlier.
“In the face of global uncertainty and geopolitical challenges, tourism has proven to be a major contributor to GDP and to the resilience of our national economy,” Widiyanti said.
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To sustain momentum through 2025, the government has rolled out a mix of supply- and demand-side stimulus. Measures include discounted fares for flights, trains, ferries, and toll roads, alongside expanded social assistance, wage subsidies, and a 13th-month salary payment to boost household purchasing power.
The ministry, together with local governments, is also stepping up oversight to ensure tourism operators meet licensing rules, comply with business standards, and provide services that meet safety and quality benchmarks for visitors.
(Raidi/Agung)
