Jakarta, January 21, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesia’s tourism industry delivered strong results in 2025, with foreign tourist arrivals expected to exceed the government’s target of 15 million, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana reported on Wednesday.
Speaking before Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR), the minister said foreign tourist arrivals had reached 13.98 million as of November 2025, representing a 10.44 percent year-on-year increase.
“When Statistics Indonesia (BPS) finalizes the December data this February, total arrivals are projected to reach 15.3 million,” Wardhana said.
She noted that 72 percent of foreign visitors originated from countries targeted under the ministry’s promotional campaigns, with Malaysia accounting for the largest share at 17 percent. According to the minister, this reflects the effectiveness of the government’s tourism marketing strategies.
Wardhana emphasized that the increase in visitor numbers has significantly boosted foreign exchange earnings. In the first three quarters of 2025, tourism revenues reached US$13.82 billion, up 9.42 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Average spending per visitor stood at US$1,259, exceeding the government’s target of US$1,220.
The minister also highlighted a surplus of 5.64 million trips, with inbound foreign arrivals surpassing outbound departures. She said this trend underscores both the growing global appeal of Indonesian destinations and the potential for a stronger tourism foreign exchange balance.
Domestic tourism also achieved record growth. From January to November 2025, Indonesians made 1.09 billion domestic trips, marking an 18.95 percent year-on-year increase and the highest level ever recorded.
“This demonstrates the resilience of domestic tourism, which continues to serve as the backbone of the national tourism sector,” Wardhana said.
Employment in the tourism sector rose to 25.91 million workers in 2025, an increase of 910,000 compared with the previous year. Investment also showed strong growth, with realized tourism projects reaching Rp53.92 trillion (US$3.18 billion) by the third quarter of 2025, up 52.66 percent year-on-year.
Wardhana concluded that the Ministry of Tourism utilized 95.92 percent of its Rp1.48 trillion budget in 2025, reflecting the effective implementation of national tourism development programs.
