Indonesia’s tourism sector delivered a strong performance in the first quarter of 2026, with tourism foreign exchange earnings reaching US$4.05 billion (approximately Rp68.28 trillion), representing a 6.3% increase compared with the same period last year.
The Head of the Indonesian Government Communications Agency, Muhammad Qodari, divulged that the increase in foreign exchange earnings was driven by a rise in international visitor arrivals, coupled with higher spending by tourists during their stay in Indonesia.
“The increase in visitor arrivals, accompanied by higher tourist spending, has contributed to the growth of tourism foreign exchange earnings,” Qodari told the press on Wednesday, the 17th of June.
According to data from the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism as of Sunday, the 14th of June, Indonesia welcomed 4.68 million international visitors between January and April 2026. This marked an 8.24% increase compared with the 4.33 million arrivals recorded during the same period back in 2025.
In addition to the increase in visitor numbers, average tourist expenditure also rose. During the first quarter of 2026, each international visitor spent an average of US$1,345.61 (approximately Rp22.68 million) per visit. This represented a 5.36% increase compared with the same period last year, when average spending stood at US$1,277.17 (approximately Rp20.89 million) per visit.
The combined growth in visitor arrivals and per-visitor expenditure contributed significantly to Indonesia’s tourism foreign exchange earnings, which reached US$4.05 billion (Rp68.28 trillion) in the first quarter of 2026. This was a 6.3% increase from US$3.81 billion (approximately Rp62.29 trillion) recorded during the first quarter of 2025.
Qodari added that Indonesia’s tourism sector has demonstrated resilience by maintaining its growth despite ongoing global geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
“This growth has been sustained despite global geopolitical dynamics and economic uncertainty. It has been supported by an adaptive marketing strategy that focuses on optimising short-and-medium-haul markets,” he remarked.