RRI.CO.ID, Tokyo – The commemoration of Kartini Day has become a fitting occasion for strengthening tourism collaboration between Indonesia and Japan through the holding of Sales Mission Japan 2026 at the Indonesian Embassy building in Tokyo on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. The event, organized by Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism with the support of the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo and Garuda Indonesia Tokyo, promoted Indonesian tourism products through business meetings connecting nine Indonesian tourism companies with 16 Japanese tourism companies.

Participating virtually in the event was Assistant Deputy for International Tourism Marketing II at the Ministry of Tourism, Yulia, while Hetty Herawati, Commercial Director of KAI Wisata, and Riki Jaya Prawira, Finance Director of KAI Wisata, attended in Tokyo. Representing Japan was Hemmi Nobuhiro, Director of the Office for Travel Promotion at the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA).

The Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Japan and the Federated States of Micronesia, Nurmala Kartini Sjahrir, expressed her appreciation to all tourism business players from Japan and Indonesia for their efforts to enhance the promotion of Indonesian tourism products.

“This Sales Mission Japan 2026 is being held on a very special day, Kartini Day. It is a historic day for the struggle for equality between women and men in Indonesia, and I believe also throughout the world. I hope this momentum will serve as encouragement for efforts to strengthen tourism cooperation between Indonesia and Japan. I note that there are 9 Indonesian tour and travel companies and 16 Japanese tour and travel companies participating in this event, with a total of around 50 participants,” she said in an official statement.

Ambassador Kartini also noted that the enthusiastic participation from both Japan and Indonesia is auspicious for improving tourism sector cooperation between the two countries. This can be seen in the rising trend of tourist visits between the two nations year after year.

In 2025, the number of Japanese tourist visits to Indonesia reached around 380,000 people, an increase of approximately 12 percent compared with the previous year. Meanwhile, in the same year, around 680,000 Indonesian tourists visited Japan. These figures fuel optimism that tourism cooperation between Indonesia and Japan will continue to grow.

“Going forward, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo will continue working to promote Indonesian tourism in Japan, both through business forums involving tourism business actors from both countries and through the promotion of Indonesian tourism via various Indonesian arts and cultural performances on different occasions. This is being done so that the Japanese public will become increasingly interested in traveling to Indonesia,” she added.

Assistant Deputy for International Tourism Marketing II at the Ministry of Tourism, Yulia, explained that the Sales Mission activities being held in Tokyo and Nagoya are expected to create tangible synergy and collaboration among tourism industry players from both countries.

“The diversity of industries present this time reflects the strength of Indonesia’s tourism ecosystem. One of the segments most relevant to the Japanese market is wellness tourism,” she said.

“The high level of awareness among Japanese people regarding health, quality of life, and interest in culture and authentic experiences makes Indonesia a highly suitable destination, with stunning natural wealth, traditions, and hospitality. We hope this Sales Mission will become a strategic step in strengthening Indonesia’s position in the Japanese tourism market,” she said.

Indonesia and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) in the Field of Tourism on March 30, 2026. The signing took place during President Prabowo Subianto’s visit to Japan, where he met with Emperor Naruhito and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The MoC is expected to further strengthen cooperation in tourism promotion; the development of tourism products such as wellness tourism, gastronomy, marine tourism, ecotourism, and cultural tourism; as well as destination management and the strengthening of sustainable tourism, including tourism villages.