Jakarta ( WNAM MONITORING): Foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia from January to August 2025 reached their highest level for the same period since the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, marking a strong sign that the tourism sector’s recovery is on track.
Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said the milestone reflects the revitalization of Indonesia’s tourism industry.
“This achievement shows that Indonesia’s tourism recovery is moving in the right direction,” she said during the ministry’s monthly performance report in Jakarta on Friday.
Data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) showed that foreign tourist arrivals in August 2025 reached 1.51 million, up 12.33 percent from the same month last year.
Cumulatively, total foreign tourist visits in the first eight months of 2025 reached 10.04 million, a 10.38 percent increase from the same period in 2024.
Domestic tourism also posted solid growth, with 807.55 million domestic trips recorded between January and August 2025, up 19.71 percent from 674.6 million trips a year earlier.
Meanwhile, outbound trips by Indonesian travelers in August 2025 totaled around 685,000, fewer than foreign arrivals, generating a positive tourism surplus for the national economy.
“The growing tourism surplus has a direct impact on boosting net foreign exchange earnings and strengthening the sector’s contribution to national revenue,” Widiyanti said.
She added that the surplus also spurred demand for accommodation, tourist spending, job creation, and investment in tourism infrastructure.
The ministry continues to implement strategic programs to enhance Indonesia’s competitiveness, including Wonderful Indonesia Gourmet (WIG), Wonderful Indonesia Wellness (WIW), and Kharisma Event Nusantara (KEN).
