Indonesia’s insurance industry pushes for mandatory travel insurance for foreign visitors entering the country in order to both strengthen traveller protection and support sector growth.
The Chairman of the Indonesian Insurance Council (Dewan Asuransi Indonesia or DAI), Yulius Bhayangkara, has recently stated that the organisation is currently urging the Indonesian government to require foreign tourists to purchase insurance before entering Indonesia. According to him, the initiative could be implemented through the presence of insurance booths at the Visa on Arrival (VoA) section upon arrival in Indonesia.
That said, Bhayangkara also noted that the proposal remains in the planning stage and requires further testing.
“There is indeed an initiative; we are trying to encourage [foreign tourists] to have travel insurance before entering Indonesia. If we [Indonesians] are going abroad, for example, we have to purchase [travel insurance]. Why not for [foreign tourists] in Indonesia as well?” Bhayangkara explained at a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, the 26th of November.
To realise this proposal, the DAI has coordinated with various stakeholders, legislators, and regulators such as the Financial Services Authority (Otoritas Jasa Keuangan or OJK).
One industry player active in the travel insurance segment is Zurich Indonesia, which, through PT Zurich Asuransi Indonesia (ZAI) and PT Zurich General Takaful Indonesia (Zurich Syariah), has recorded a consistent increase in the number of policies. The Country Manager of Zurich Indonesia, Edhi Tjahja Negara, divulged that the company has already implemented a digitalisation initiative.
“We believe travel insurance growth could reach double digits next year,” Negara added.
Furthermore, Prof Dr Telisa Aulia Falianty, an economist at the University of Indonesia, noted that transport insurance has grown by 8.62%, citing official data from Statistics Indonesia in November 2025.
“We hope this [growth] will continue going forward. So, the [growth] already started, and this provides a strong foundation for the [subsequent] growth of a more robust insurance industry,” Falianty remarked.
Previously, the Indonesian General Insurance Association (Asosiasi Asuransi Umum Indonesia or AAUI) projected that the performance of its travel insurance line will increase until the end of this year, in line with the Christmas and New Year momentum.
“People want to go on vacation during Christmas-New Year. If they use a travel agent, it will certainly include travel insurance, and some will even purchase [travel insurance] by themselves. There will definitely be an increase in demand for this insurance,” Trinita Situmeang, AAUI’s Deputy Chair for Statistics and Research, previously told the press on Thursday, the 20th of November.