Indonesia Eyes Sports Tourism to Drive Economic Growth

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is strengthening sports tourism as a new driver of economic growth. The statement was delivered during the Government Press Conference: 2026 Priority Programs Update and Strengthening the National Sports Ecosystem in Jakarta on Thursday, July 2, 2026.

Indonesia's Minister of Youth and Sports, Erick Thohir, said sports tourism offers significant opportunities for economic expansion. He said the sector could boost tourism, investment, and Indonesia's global image.

Erick noted that the global sports tourism market continues growing rapidly with strong economic potential. He said Indonesia should seize this opportunity to support broader national economic growth.

He highlighted the sector's growing value and contribution worldwide. He stressed that sports tourism should become part of Indonesia's long-term development strategy.

"The value of sports tourism is approximately US$625 billion globally, or around Rp9,700 trillion to Rp9,800 trillion. It is a massive global industry with an annual growth rate of around 8 percent. How many countries in the world achieve economic growth of 8 percent? President Prabowo is targeting 8 percent growth. This means sports tourism must become one of the pillars supporting our overall economic growth," he said.

In addition, Erick cited various sporting events as examples of sports creating broad economic benefits. He pointed to marathon events and MotoGP Mandalika as successful examples.

According to him, those events increase hotel occupancy and create more business opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). They also encourage greater investment while supporting tourism and local economic growth in host regions.

The Indonesian Government continues strengthening the national sports ecosystem through international events and long-term development programs. The initiative aims to position sports as a strategic contributor to Indonesia's economy while strengthening its international presence.