Tourism Ministry Tightens Social Media Accommodation Oversight

The Ministry of Tourism has stated it will tighten oversight of accommodations offering services to tourists via social media. ‘This will become a future issue as it does not guarantee safety and fraud is currently rampant,’ said Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday. Widiyanti cited a recent case in Yogyakarta where the local tourism office reported accommodation fraud, with perpetrators being dealt with. This experience should serve as a lesson for all parties to be cautious when booking services for travel. She noted this is a consequence of the government’s crackdown on business permits for online travel agencies (OTAs), currently being enforced by the Tourism Ministry. ‘They (perpetrators) will inevitably seek alternative methods, such as marketing on social media,’ she said. Therefore, Widiyanti urged the public and tourists not to book accommodation via social media to foster a competitive, sustainable tourism industry and prevent fraud. All parties are advised to book accommodation directly with hotels or through legitimate and trusted OTAs. ‘We recommend tourists always book directly with hotels or through online travel agents (OTAs) rather than social media,’ Widiyanti said. To address the issue, Widiyanti stated the Tourism Ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Trade and Ministry of Communications and Digital to monitor illegal accommodation sales on social media. ‘Yes, regulations will be introduced shortly,’ she added. On 24 February 2026, the Ministry of Communications and Digital announced it would regulate unlicensed online travel platforms to ensure tourist safety, protect regional revenue, and create fair competition for tourism operators. The move follows collaboration with the Tourism Ministry after discovering many accommodations marketed online without proper permits. Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid stressed that protecting tourists and local communities’ interests is the top priority. ‘Our focus is safeguarding community and regional interests. Local governments and residents should benefit from tax revenue for development, but unregistered operators allow profits to flow abroad,’ Meutya said. Meutya explained that unlicensed private accommodations, such as foreign-owned villas, are harming regional economies. Therefore, she confirmed the Ministry of Communications and Digital will take strict action against digital platforms facilitating illegal practices, from warnings to takedowns.