In Response to Middle East Conflict, Tourism Ministry Strengthens Asia and Oceania Markets

Indonesia’s Tourism Ministry is strengthening its tourism market focus in the Asia-Pacific region in response to the outbreak of geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.

This was announced by Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa at Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java following a public lecture on 12 March 2026.

Ni Luh Puspa stated that markets in countries across Asia and Oceania present significant opportunities that should be maximised to maintain stability in Indonesia’s tourism sector. “The Tourism Minister has directed us to begin a market shift by strengthening focus on Asia and Oceania, as they are unaffected by flight disruptions originating from the Middle East,” Ni Luh Puspa said, as reported by Antara.

Ni Luh Puspa explained that Indonesia possesses strong connectivity through aviation routes from countries that have traditionally served as primary gateways to the nation, such as Malaysia at 27 per cent and Singapore at 18 per cent. “This means we need to compensate for 11 per cent by pursuing available markets. If we look at 2026 visits to Indonesia, they are still dominated by Asian countries and Australia. There is also China, India, and South Korea, which show quite good growth, as well as Taiwan,” she said.

Additionally, Ni Luh Puspa stated that the Tourism Ministry has prepared a strategy to enhance human resource development in relation to digital technology utilisation as a tool for promotion to strengthen Indonesia’s tourism ecosystem. With this approach, the foundation of the nation’s tourism sector will achieve higher quality and professionalism in terms of governance.

Furthermore, she noted that Indonesian people are renowned for their friendliness towards visitors from all parts of the world, which represents a distinct competitive advantage in the tourism context. “Trends may change, but service quality and hospitality are the key factors that help international visitors remember and return,” she concluded.