Indonesia tourism set to surpass 2025 targets as international arrivals reach record levels

Indonesia’s tourism sector is on track to exceed its 2025 performance targets, with international visitor arrivals projected to reach 15.3 million by the end of the year, as reported by ANTARA.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, international arrivals stood at nearly 14 million by November 2025, representing a double-digit increase compared with the previous year. Final figures, expected to be confirmed following the release of December data, indicate that total arrivals will surpass the government’s original target of 15 million.

Officials noted that the majority of foreign visitors originated from priority markets identified in national tourism promotion strategies, underlining the effectiveness of targeted international outreach. Regional travel continued to play a key role, while long-haul markets also demonstrated steady growth.

The increase in visitor numbers translated into higher foreign exchange earnings. Tourism revenues during the first three quarters of 2025 exceeded US$13.8 billion, showing robust year-on-year growth. Average spending per international visitor rose above expectations, further strengthening the sector’s contribution to the national economy.

Indonesia also recorded a positive travel balance, with inbound international trips significantly exceeding outbound travel by residents. This surplus highlights both the country’s growing global appeal and its potential to reinforce tourism-related foreign exchange stability.

Domestic tourism reached unprecedented levels, with more than one billion trips recorded between January and November 2025. The surge marked the highest level of domestic travel ever documented and confirmed the central role of local tourism in sustaining the sector during periods of global uncertainty.

Employment in tourism continued to expand, with the workforce increasing by more than 900,000 people compared with the previous year. At the same time, investment in tourism-related projects rose sharply, reflecting renewed confidence in the sector’s long-term prospects and infrastructure development.

The Ministry of Tourism reported a high level of budget execution in 2025, signalling effective implementation of national tourism programmes aimed at enhancing destination competitiveness, improving services and supporting sustainable growth.

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