Tourism
From The Report: Indonesia 2024
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Indonesia presents substantial potential as a tourist destination due to its diverse natural landscapes, including beautiful beaches, lush tropical forests, majestic mountains and expansive seas. Although the country has a well-established tourism industry, there remains considerable room for expansion. The administration of President Joko Widodo, better known as President Jokowi, who will conclude his second term in October 2024, has recognised this potential and is focusing on stimulating significant growth and investment in the tourism sector. Key initiatives include promoting Indonesia as a global travel destination, with special attention to niche markets such as large-scale events and sports tourism. Additionally, there is a concerted effort to diversify tourism beyond Bali, the country’s most frequented destination, by developing other regions and addressing infrastructure and amenity deficiencies. The government’s proactive approach involves easing visa processes, investing in infrastructure and enhancing marketing campaigns to attract more visitors. Committed to sustainable tourism practices, Indonesia aims to appeal to environmentally conscious travellers and preserve its cultural and natural attractions. Despite challenges like diversifying destinations and improving infrastructure, Indonesia’s long-term strategy is geared towards maintaining a trajectory of growth, expanding its international appeal and reinforcing tourism as a vital driver of economic development.

This chapter contains an interview with Shirley Tan, Vice Chairman of Rajawali Property Group.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Increased offerings: Government initiatives are expected to help promote alternative locations and attract more international events
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Indonesia has significant potential as a tourist destination thanks to its diverse natural landscapes, which include beaches, tropical forests, mountains and seas. Although the country has a robust tourism industry, there is still further potential for growth in the sector. Recognising this, the administration of President Joko Widodo, better known as Jokowi – who will complete his second and final term in October 2024 – targeted the industry for substantial growth and investment. To this end, the government has undertaken initiatives to promote tourism in Indonesia and establish the country as a global destination, with a focus on developing…

Analysis

New locations: Efforts are under way to promote less-visited areas of the country
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Tourism is a key pillar of Indonesia’s economy, with significant potential to drive economic growth in the coming years. Home to an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, Indonesia is endowed with natural landscapes and a rich cultural heritage. However, much of its potential is untapped, as Bali maintains its position at the forefront of the tourism industry. With the island of Bali being Indonesia’s most wellknown destination, the issue of over-tourism is becoming an increasingly noticeable problem. To address this, the government is keen to diversify tourism destinations and utilise the underexplored parts of the country that have much…

Interview

Prime getaway: Shirley Tan, Vice Chairman, Rajawali Property Group, on new travel destinations and efforts to cater to the domestic market
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Interview: Shirley Tan, Vice Chairman, Rajawali Property Group How do you assess the recovery in the tourism industry since the Covid-19 pandemic? SHIRLEY TAN: The recovery of Indonesia’s tourism industry after the pandemic has been robust, particularly in relation to international tourist arrivals. We recorded about 16.1m foreign visitors in 2019, and projections for 2024 suggest that numbers could approach or even exceed this figure. A notable development is the sharp increase in domestic travel,…

Analysis

Round trip: Fuelled by sustained development efforts, digital innovation and growing consumer spending, global travel is staging a comeback
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The global tourism sector is gradually recovering from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to UN Tourism’s World Tourism Barometer published in January 2024, international tourism ended 2023 at 88% of pre-pandemic levels, with an estimated 1.3bn international arrivals. The revival has been underpinned by the release of pent-up demand, increased air connectivity, and a robust resurgence of Asian markets and destinations, leading to an expected full recovery by the end of 2024. However, the rebound has been uneven across different global regions. The Middle East led the recovery in relative terms, experiencing a 22% increase in arrivals…