"We know that tourists have a large multiplier effect on the Indonesian economy. Both international and domestic tourists can be relied on as a buffer for our economic growth," he said at the CORE Economic Outlook 2025 in Jakarta on Saturday (Nov 23).
"As this sector is indeed a key buffer for our economy, we must also pay close attention to it," Pambudy added.
By the third quarter of 2024, Indonesia had welcomed 10.7 million foreign tourists, with an average expenditure of US$1,375.08 per visit.
For domestic tourism, as of September 2024, there had been 757.96 million trips.
Meanwhile, the ministry's Deputy for Economic Affairs, Amalia Adininggar Widyasanti, highlighted the relatively low foreign exchange earnings from foreign tourists visiting Indonesia, compared to Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore.
For example, Indonesia's total foreign exchange from tourism is US$17 billion per year, while Thailand generates US$64.3 billion annually.
Another comparison: the average spending per arrival in Australia is US$5,100, in Thailand is US$1,610, and in Singapore is US$1,060, while Indonesia's average is only US$1,050.
"Therefore, by 2029, we aim for tourism to contribute US$32 billion to US$39 billion in national foreign exchange, with 29 million people employed in the sector, a contribution of 5 percent to GDP, and a 14.4 percent increase in community welfare," she explained.
In the next five years, the ministry aims to raise the average expenditure of foreign tourists to US$1,600 per visit, boost tourism investment to Rp88.7 trillion, and generate Rp49.1 trillion in contribution from the 13 Priority Tourism Destinations.
(US$1 = Rp15,943)
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Translator: M. Baqir Idrus Alatas, Yashinta Difa
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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