Tourism Ministry Develops K-Pop Concert Packages to Boost Foreign Exchange
The Ministry of Tourism (Kemenpar) sees a significant opportunity in developing music tourism packages, particularly those themed around K-Pop. The move aims to extend the length of stay of foreign tourists (wisman) in various priority destinations, especially in the Greater Jakarta area.
Kemenpar Spokesperson Nia Niscaya stated that the ministry is very open to collaborating with various travel industry associations to create integrated concert packages. This collaboration involves strategic partners such as ASITA, AITTA, ASTINDO, and IINTOA.
“The national tourism industry needs to view the many K-Pop concerts being held as an opportunity to drive the tourism sector,” Nia said in Jakarta on Wednesday.
The hosting of international concerts, especially K-Pop, is believed to be a major tourism event driver that provides a significant economic impact. In addition to attracting foreign tourists, domestic concerts also play a role in preventing tourism foreign exchange outflows, as local fans no longer need to travel abroad to see their idols.
To illustrate the economic potential of this phenomenon, Kemenpar provided an estimate of the economic impact of a planned large-scale concert such as BTS. Nia added that the figure does not yet include the turnover from merchandise sales and food and beverages (F&B) at the venue.
Furthermore, the state also receives direct revenue through taxes and venue rental fees, such as those for Gelora Bung Karno (GBK), paid to the state asset management company.
Through the concept of concert tourism, Kemenpar is encouraging the creation of tourism packages that combine concert tickets with transport, accommodation, and visits to local attractions. This strategy is expected to increase the length of stay of tourists, so that the economic multiplier effect can be felt more widely by the community.
Regarding operational aspects, Kemenpar is committed to strengthening coordination to facilitate permits for large-scale events. “Currently, Kemenpar’s role is to support the organisation of an event by issuing a letter of recommendation or statement of support as one of the mandatory documents for applying for a crowd permit,” Nia explained.
Furthermore, the momentum of K-Pop concerts is also being used to promote Indonesian destinations to tourists from South Korea. Given that the majority of K-Pop fans are from the millennial and Gen Z generations, this segmentation is considered a perfect match with the profile of South Korean tourists who frequently visit the country.