Indonesia Ranks Second in Global Muslim-Friendly Destination Awards

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Indonesia secured second place in the “Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year” category at the 2026 Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) Awards in Singapore. The award was received by Tourism Ministry Secretary Bayu Aji on behalf of Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana.

“In this year’s ranking, Indonesia climbed three spots from its previous position, having ranked fifth in 2025,” Bayu said in a press release on Friday, June 19, 2026. He also expressed appreciation to CrescentRating and Mastercard for their consistent support of the annual GMTI event.

The GMTI ranking applies the ACES (Access, Communication, Environment, and Services) framework, which covers 17 indicators. The Access category assesses connectivity, visa requirements, and transportation infrastructure.

The Communication category evaluates language proficiency, destination promotion, and stakeholders’ awareness of Muslim-friendly tourism. The Environment aspect measures basic utilities, safety, sustainability, and other supporting factors.

The Services category examines the availability of places of worship, halal food options, and Muslim-friendly facilities at airports. It also includes accommodations for Muslim travelers, as well as tourism experiences and attractions rooted in Islamic cultural heritage.

Overall, Indonesia achieved a score of 79 -- its highest since joining the GMTI. This improvement reflects the country’s consistent efforts to build a high-quality, inclusive, and globally competitive Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem.

The achievement is closely linked to various ministry programs, including strengthening halal certification for SME products in tourism villages and developing 15 Muslim-friendly destinations through the Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI) 2025 in collaboration with Bank Indonesia.

Other initiatives include enhancing destination promotion via Indonesia Travel, drafting guidelines for basic services and technical instructions, and expanding Muslim-friendly tourism destinations. “We are optimistic that we can once again secure the title of ‘Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year’ next year,” Bayu concluded. (Gusti Panji)