KUALA LUMPUR - The Indonesian government is confident it can achieve 16 million to 17.6 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2026.

The government is also targeting foreign exchange earnings of between Rp22 billion (USD1.2 million) and Rp24.7 billion (USD1.4 million), while increasing tourism’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to 4.5 to 4.7%.

Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto said Indonesia met its target of 15 million foreign tourist arrivals in 2025 and is aiming for 16 million to 17.6 million this year.

“In accordance with the Minister of Tourism's statement, we achieved the target of 15 million foreign tourist visits in 2025. This year, the target is 16 million to 17.6 million visits,” he said after attending the Tourism Coordination Meeting last Monday.

The meeting agreed on key pillars to strengthen tourism, including accelerating infrastructure development and improving connectivity.

This will be achieved by linking existing airports with newly opened ones and implementing joint programs between central and regional governments, particularly in priority tourism areas.

Entry access will also be simplified through a review of the foreign tourist visa policy, Hartarto said.

The government is further promoting governance transformation and digitalization by enhancing activity management across regions through integrated licensing and improving safety standards via tourism insurance.

To strengthen human resources and tourism financing, workforce skills will be upgraded through programs targeting 400,000 people annually, while fiscal sustainability will be supported by the Indonesia Quality Tourism Fund (IQTF).

Additionally, the government will provide income tax incentives (PPh DTP) for tourism workers in 2025 - 2026.

“Ahead of this Eid al-Fitr holiday, we will prepare transportation ticket discounts, shopping discounts, and others. 

“We also discussed visa facilities, which will be reported to the President,” Hartarto added.

By the third quarter of 2025, tourism contributed 3.96% to GDP, with foreign exchange earnings reaching Rp218 trillion (USD13.82 billion) and a total of 25.91 million people employed in the sector.

As of November 2025, the total number of foreign tourist arrivals stood at 13.98 million.

The average spending per foreign tourist in the third quarter of 2025 was about Rp21.2 million (approximately USD1,259), with the highest arrivals coming from Malaysia (17.3%), Australia (11.3%), Singapore (10.5 %), and China (8.8 %).