Indonesia Pushes Inclusive Tourism at Global Summit in Berlin

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia has placed sustainable and inclusive tourism at the heart of global discussions, as Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri joined counterparts from around the world at the UN Tourism Ministers’ Summit 2026 in Berlin. The high-level forum, held as part of ITB Berlin at CityCube, brought together ministers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to chart the future of emerging destinations amid the sector’s ongoing recovery.

Organized by UN Tourism in collaboration with Messe Berlin, the summit carried the theme “Empowering Emerging Destinations: From Potential to Performance.” Discussions centered on how developing destinations can balance growth with resilience, highlighting governance, infrastructure readiness, and community well-being as critical factors.

Participants emphasized aligning investment priorities with destination needs, strengthening human capital, and harnessing digital tools and data to drive innovation. UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nuwais opened the forum by underscoring the link between tourism and peace, noting that stability fosters connectivity and infrastructure development, which in turn fuel tourism growth.

Minister Widiyanti Putri stressed that global tourism expansion must be guided by inclusive and sustainable policies. “Transforming emerging destinations is not only about increasing visitor numbers, but also about enhancing the quality of experiences, ensuring equitable economic benefits, and building long-term resilience,” she said, as quoted by Antara.

Indonesia shared its experience in community-based tourism, sustainable destination strategies, and public-private partnerships that have attracted impactful investment. The country’s participation also reinforced its commitment to tourism diplomacy and international cooperation. Several ministers praised Indonesia’s progress in investment promotion, destination management, and the use of advanced technologies -- including artificial intelligence -- for marketing strategies.

The summit is expected to yield actionable measures for member states, helping emerging destinations evolve into competitive and sustainable tourism hubs. ***