Indonesia to Develop 15 Provinces for Muslim-Friendly Tourism

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is strengthening its position in the global Muslim travel market by developing 15 provinces as high-quality Muslim-friendly tourism destinations. The move is part of a broader strategy to improve competitiveness amid competition from other countries also targeting Muslim travelers worldwide.

Tourism Minister, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, conveyed that 15 provinces have strong potential to be developed into Muslim-friendly destinations. This assessment is based on the Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI), which is compiled with reference to the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI).

In remarks in Jakarta on Thursday, 2 July 2026, she said the provinces considered promising for Muslim-friendly tourism development include Aceh, Riau, Riau Islands, West Sumatra, and Bengkulu.

Jakarta, Banten, West Java, Central Java, East Java, and South Kalimantan are also seen as having strong potential as Muslim-friendly tourism areas. Similar potential is also found in West Nusa Tenggara, South Sulawesi, Gorontalo, and the Yogyakarta Province.

To support the development of these provinces as Muslim-friendly tourism destinations, the Tourism Ministry has included a range of events and activities in the Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) calendar. The initiative is specifically aimed at attracting Muslim travelers to the targeted provinces.

Events such as the Aceh Ramadan Festival, Aceh Culinary Festival, and Muslim Life Fest are expected to draw Muslim visitors. Similar hopes are placed on the Balangan Islamic Festival, Batam Takbir Parade, and Batam Wonderfood & Art Ramadan.

In addition, a dedicated Muslim Friendly Travel page has been launched on Indonesia.travel to make it easier for Muslim travelers to find information on destinations, event calendars, prayer facilities, and Muslim-friendly travel packages.

The minister said the government is also supporting the diversification of Muslim-friendly tourism products to meet the needs and preferences of Muslim travelers worldwide.

“Indonesia’s Muslim-friendly tourism products are also being continually diversified, ranging from religious tourism and halal culinary experiences to wellness based on spiritual values,” she said, as quoted by Antara.

The Tourism Ministry is also strengthening the capacity of business operators, running business mentoring programs, and expanding market access and financing for providers of Muslim-friendly travel packages.

Minister Widiyanti said Indonesia still has opportunities to increase arrivals of Muslim tourists from member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which are currently facing regional geopolitical dynamics.

Saudi Arabia is still expected to remain a potential contributor of Muslim visitors to Indonesia, as flight connectivity from the country remains intact. However, the Tourism Ministry is monitoring developments in the Middle East to adjust its tourism promotion strategy for travelers from the region.

In addition to attracting visitors from countries with large Muslim populations such as Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Turkey, and Uzbekistan, the ministry is also broadening its target market. It is now aiming at non-OIC countries with strong interest in Muslim-friendly tourism.

Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Australia, and New Zealand are among the countries considered promising Muslim-friendly tourism markets. ***