The Indonesian Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, recently extended an invitation to South Korean investors to invest in Indonesia’s wellness tourism sector.
This invitation was delivered during the Tourism Investment Meeting, which marked the first part of Wardhana’s working visit to South Korea.
“Today, we are opening the door to various investment opportunities, supported by policy commitments, national investment infrastructure, and a continuously growing tourism sector,” said the minister in the ARA Meeting Room, Four Seasons Hotel Seoul, on Monday, the 8th of September.
Wellness tourism has been prioritised as a major focus because it is considered promising, authentic, and rooted in hereditary traditions. Globally, the wellness industry is projected to grow to approximately US$10 trillion. Indonesia currently ranks as the sixth-largest wellness economy in the Asia Pacific and has the third-highest growth rate.
“More than 23% of tourists visiting Bali cite wellness as their primary motivation for their trip. Besides Bali, other destinations such as Yogyakarta, Solo, and Sumba are now emerging as wellness tourism hubs,” continued Wardhana.
South Korea is not the only country the Indonesian government has recently targeted to expand the potential of Indonesia’s wellness market. In May this year, wellness tourism was highlighted as a key attraction at the Osaka World Expo 2025 in Japan, showcased through the Ministry of Tourism’s efforts to enhance Indonesia’s global presence in tourism.
The event was organised in collaboration with the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Tokyo, the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Osaka, Garuda Indonesia’s Japan Office, and the ASEAN-Japan Centre.
“We hope that holding activities like this can be a catalyst for increasing visits by foreign tourists from Japan, which, [for] this year, is targeted at 395 thousand visits,” Yulia, the ministry’s Assistant Deputy for International Tourism Marketing II, had previously remarked, as quoted from the press on the 12th of June.
Indonesia’s reputation in the wellness tourism sector has also gained global recognition. In a list of the World’s Top 10 Wellness Destinations in 2025, recently compiled by the wellness travel agency Vacayou, Bali ranked first, surpassing iconic wellness destinations such as Sedona (United States), Tuscany (Italy), and Kyoto (Japan).
As Vacayou noted, “Often referred to as the wellness capital, Bali is a blend of spiritual healing, natural beauty, and cultural richness. Ubud, in particular, is renowned for its yoga retreats, holistic healing centres, and organic eateries. The tranquil rice fields and Hindu temples add to the magical atmosphere.”