Govt Encourages Sports Tourism to Boost National Economy

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government is promoting sports tourism as a strategy to drive national economic growth through international sporting events. Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir said the sector has significant economic potential.

“Sports tourism is currently valued at around USD 621 billion, with growth of nearly 8 percent. This makes it an attractive opportunity to boost Indonesia’s economic growth through sports tourism,” Minister Erick said during a working meeting with the House of Representatives’ Commission X in Jakarta on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

Minister Erick cited the Mandalika MotoGP as an example of successful sports tourism development in Indonesia, noting that the event delivered positive economic impacts during its 2025 staging.

However, he stressed that Indonesia must manage this potential more seriously, as the country’s sports tourism sector often struggles to compete with other destinations.

Minister Erick pointed to the scheduling clash between the Mandalika MotoGP and the Singapore Formula 1 race, which were held at the same time. Competition among international sporting events, he said, has placed Indonesia at a disadvantage.

“Neighboring countries increasingly see Indonesia merely as a market. When we host major events, they are often disrupted and overshadowed,” Minister Erick said.

To address these challenges, the government, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, has established a dedicated deputy overseeing sports tourism and the sports industry. The move aims to strengthen governance and improve cross-ministerial coordination in the sector.

Meanwhile, the House of Representatives Commission X Speaker, Hetifah Sjaifudian, said a larger budget was needed to support the ministry’s programs. She said the commission’s leadership and members had expressed support for increasing the ministry’s budget in 2026.

“We at Commission X are ready to support and assist efforts to increase the ministry’s budget. This is part of strengthening the national sports ecosystem, developing Indonesian youth, and nurturing young athletes,” Hetifah said. (Gusti Panji/Lasti Martina)