RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government has reaffirmed its commitment to regulating unlicensed Online Travel Agents (OTAs). The Ministry of Communication and Digital will block illegal OTA sites and apps to protect tourists and create a fair business climate in the tourism sector.

This policy was adopted following a meeting between Ministry of Communication and Digital and the Ministry of Tourism in Jakarta on Tuesday, 24 February 2026. Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, emphasized that the government will take firm action against platforms that do not comply with regulations.

"If we find any problems, we will first check whether they are registered or not. If not, we will ask them to register. If they refuse to register, we can immediately terminate their access," Meutya stated.

She added that the government will coordinate further with registered OTAs that do not comply with tourism sector regulations. "For those that are registered but do not comply with the regulations set by the Ministry of Tourism, we will listen to the Ministry's input on whether to issue a warning letter or the extent of sanctions imposed on OTAs that do not comply with applicable laws in the tourism sector," she explained.

Meutya also emphasized that this measure aims to protect the local economy. "Because they could actually increase taxes or direct them to their regions, but then, when they're not exposed or registered, the additional funds or taxes that should be allocated are not maximized, and instead, the revenue is taken directly to other regions," she said.

On the same occasion, Tourism Minister, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, stated that the tourism sector is one of the driving forces of the national economy. She stated that tourism's foreign exchange contribution in 2025 is estimated to reach IDR 317 trillion.

The minister added that the government is targeting an increase in foreign exchange from the tourism sector to US$39.4 billion, or approximately IDR 651 trillion, by 2029. By regulating unlicensed OTAs, the government is optimistic that Indonesia's tourism ecosystem will become healthier, more orderly, and more sustainable.