Video: To Recover Tourism Business, Indonesia Can Emulate Japan and Saudi Arabia

Tourism serves as a key driver of Indonesia’s economic growth by creating jobs and stimulating MSMEs, trade, hospitality, transport, and creative industries. However, the Indonesian tourism industry is currently facing hurdles in its post-COVID-19 recovery process. Emmanuela Bungasmara Ega Tirta, a Commodity Expert at CNBC Indonesia Research, revealed OECD data indicating that Indonesia’s tourism industry still experiences a 4% decline compared to the pre-pandemic era.

As of May 2026, Indonesia recorded 1.38 million visitors, or 6 million visits, throughout the first semester of 2026. The quality of these visits has shifted; current trends are driven by tourists from Yemen and Russia, while visitors from Malaysia and Singapore tend to stay for shorter durations. Indonesia could look towards the tourism development strategies of Japan, which has successfully attracted visitors by simplifying tourism systems and information. The central question remains: what are the challenges facing Indonesia’s tourism recovery, and what efforts are required to drive tourism as a primary source of economic growth?