Jakarta, June 21, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesia is continuing its efforts to develop a Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem that is evolving into a high-quality, inclusive, and globally competitive sector, according to the Ministry of Tourism.
Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism Bayu Aji, in a statement, expressed optimism that Indonesia could achieve the title of “Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year” next year.
He noted that Indonesia’s progress is reflected in its rise to second place in the 2026 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), moving up three positions compared to the previous year. This achievement underscores the country’s strengthening position as a competitive global Muslim-friendly tourism destination.
Indonesia recorded an overall score of 79, marking its highest performance since joining the GMTI. According to Bayu, this improvement reflects the government’s consistent efforts to develop a Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem that is both inclusive and of high quality.
He said the progress has been supported by various initiatives implemented by the Ministry of Tourism, including strengthening halal certification for micro and small enterprises in tourist villages and developing 15 Muslim-friendly tourism destinations under the Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI) 2025 in collaboration with Bank Indonesia.
The ministry has also enhanced destination promotion through Indonesia.travel, developed guidelines for basic Muslim-friendly tourism services, and issued technical standards for the development of Muslim-friendly tourism destinations.
Bayu emphasized that this achievement encourages continued collaboration among stakeholders to further develop comfortable, inclusive, and high-quality destinations for Muslim travelers worldwide, while strengthening Indonesia’s position in the global tourism market.
The GMTI rankings are based on the ACES framework—Access, Communication, Environment, and Services—covering 17 indicators. These include connectivity, visa facilitation, transport infrastructure, language accessibility, destination promotion, safety, sustainability, halal dining options, prayer facilities, and Muslim-friendly accommodation and services.
The ministry stated that continued efforts will focus on improving these areas to further enhance Indonesia’s competitiveness in the global Muslim tourism sector.
