Antara News·Indonesia·Friday, September 11, 2026 at 05:07 PM

Tourism minister seeks more investment in priority destinations, SEZs

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Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana is actively encouraging foreign investors and international partners to invest in Indonesia's 13 Priority Destinations and 10 Tourism Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

In an official statement confirmed on Friday, Widiyanti underscored Indonesia's immense potential to expand tourism investment, both in geographical distribution and business variety. This is evident in the country’s tourism investment realization, which hit a record Rp73.56 trillion (around US$4.17 billion) in 2025.

However, around 76.5 percent of those investments are concentrated in Jakarta and Bali, with 75 percent directed toward hotel and restaurant developments.

"That is why we are currently diversifying investment into other priority destinations outside Bali and Jakarta," Widiyanti said during the "Monthly Economic Diplomatic Breakfast" forum hosted with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) on Friday.

According to her, several destinations outside of Bali and Jakarta have showcased strong visit growth in early 2026. For instance, visits to North Sumatra's Lake Toba grew by more than 106 percent.

Meanwhile, opportunities for more balanced investment distribution are expanding as traveler behavior shifts away from being centered solely on Java and Bali.

Widiyanti expressed optimism that this shift will broaden the economic benefits of the tourism sector by creating jobs, fostering business growth, and boosting community welfare.

With the support of Kadin Indonesia, the Tourism Ministry aims to direct investment toward a wider range of subsectors beyond hotels and restaurants, particularly infrastructure that supports accessibility, such as cruise marinas, as well as the development of new tourist attractions.

This diversification is expected to build a stronger tourism ecosystem while opening up more economic opportunities for local regions.

“The government is providing various incentives, ranging from tax allowances and incentives for labor-intensive industries to import duty exemptions for tourism equipment and yachts,” she remarked.

Deputy General Chairperson for International Affairs of Kadin Indonesia James Riady noted that tourism remains one of the fastest-growing sectors amid slowing economic growth.

James said Indonesia's tourism sector is unique because the country does not need to build its assets from scratch, given its abundance of beaches, seas, diving spots, forests, and culture.

However, the challenge lies in turning this potential into higher tourist arrivals, longer lengths of stay, increased spending, more investment, job creation, and repeat visits.

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