{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1767033,
        "msgid": "tourism-ministry-tightens-social-media-accommodation-oversight-1779912192",
        "date": "2026-05-26 21:13:49",
        "title": "Tourism Ministry Tightens Social Media Accommodation Oversight",
        "author": "",
        "source": "ANTARA_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Regulation",
        "summary": "The Indonesian Tourism Ministry is stepping up monitoring of social media accommodations amid rising fraud risks, collaborating with Trade and Digital Communications ministries to enforce regulations. Officials warn that unlicensed platforms risk regional revenue and tourist safety, urging travellers to book via official channels. The move follows a crackdown on unlicensed online travel agencies to protect local economies and ensure fair competition.",
        "content": "<p>The Ministry of Tourism has stated it will tighten oversight of\naccommodations offering services to tourists via social media. \u2018This\nwill become a future issue as it does not guarantee safety and fraud is\ncurrently rampant,\u2019 said Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana at a\npress conference in Jakarta on Tuesday. Widiyanti cited a recent case in\nYogyakarta where the local tourism office reported accommodation fraud,\nwith perpetrators being dealt with. This experience should serve as a\nlesson for all parties to be cautious when booking services for travel.\nShe noted this is a consequence of the government\u2019s crackdown on\nbusiness permits for online travel agencies (OTAs), currently being\nenforced by the Tourism Ministry. \u2018They (perpetrators) will inevitably\nseek alternative methods, such as marketing on social media,\u2019 she said.\nTherefore, Widiyanti urged the public and tourists not to book\naccommodation via social media to foster a competitive, sustainable\ntourism industry and prevent fraud. All parties are advised to book\naccommodation directly with hotels or through legitimate and trusted\nOTAs. \u2018We recommend tourists always book directly with hotels or through\nonline travel agents (OTAs) rather than social media,\u2019 Widiyanti said.\nTo address the issue, Widiyanti stated the Tourism Ministry will\ncollaborate with the Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Communications\nand Digital to monitor illegal accommodation sales on social media.\n\u2018Yes, regulations will be introduced shortly,\u2019 she added. On 24 February\n2026, the Ministry of Communications and Digital announced it would\nregulate unlicensed online travel platforms to ensure tourist safety,\nprotect regional revenue, and create fair competition for tourism\noperators. The move follows collaboration with the Tourism Ministry\nafter discovering many accommodations marketed online without proper\npermits. Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid stressed that\nprotecting tourists and local communities\u2019 interests is the top\npriority. \u2018Our focus is safeguarding community and regional interests.\nLocal governments and residents should benefit from tax revenue for\ndevelopment, but unregistered operators allow profits to flow abroad,\u2019\nMeutya said. Meutya explained that unlicensed private accommodations,\nsuch as foreign-owned villas, are harming regional economies. Therefore,\nshe confirmed the Ministry of Communications and Digital will take\nstrict action against digital platforms facilitating illegal practices,\nfrom warnings to takedowns.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tourism-ministry-tightens-social-media-accommodation-oversight-1779912192",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}