Tourism Ministry Pushes Wellness Tourism to Capture Foreign Visitor Market

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism is mapping the country's wellness tourism potential and ecosystem as part of a strategy to strengthen Indonesia's competitiveness in the global tourism market, while targeting foreign travelers increasingly seeking health and wellness experiences during their trips. The move was carried out through a Coordination Meeting and Identification of Development Opportunities for Indonesian Wellness Tourism, held in Jakarta on September 3, 2026.

The meeting was opened by Acting Deputy for Industry and Investment at Kemenpar, Rizki Handayani, and brought together stakeholders across sectors. These included the Ministry of Health, the Jakarta Provincial Health Office, the Jakarta Provincial Tourism and Creative Economy Office, the Indonesian Spa Association (ASPI), the Association of Indonesian Beauty and Aesthetic Clinic Operators (PRASTIKA), the Indonesian Fitness Center Entrepreneurs Association (PPPKI), the Bali Spa & Wellness Association (BSWA), and various wellness tourism business operators.

Rizki explained that the global wellness industry continues to grow and has become a lifestyle trend among international travelers, opening a major opportunity for Indonesia to turn it into one of its competitive tourism strengths worldwide. As a result, Kemenpar has made wellness tourism one of its flagship programs to attract higher-quality foreign arrivals. However, she stressed that developing the sector requires an ecosystem built comprehensively and in an integrated manner. "We see that this ecosystem has not yet been built broadly," he said.

As an initial step, Ministry of Tourism is compiling a catalog of Indonesian wellness businesses that will be integrated into the Indonesia Travel database, a platform frequently used by foreign tourists as a reference before visiting the country. The catalog is expected to make it easier for international visitors to find accurate information on wellness products and services across different regions, while also mapping the sector's potential from products and services to the businesses that could become part of travelers' experiences in Indonesia.

Beyond compiling the catalog, Ministry of Tourism will also engage hotel operators, travel businesses, and international exhibition and MICE associations to strengthen the wellness tourism ecosystem from upstream to downstream. This cross-sector collaboration is expected to connect wellness products and services with the broader tourism industry, making them more visible and accessible to travelers from abroad.

Rizki added that wellness has become a tourism product that offers a distinct sense of enlightenment for foreign visitors to Indonesia. "When they return home from Indonesia, they feel enlightened after undergoing therapy or experiencing Indonesia's nature," she said.

She noted that Indonesia's natural wealth, culture, and traditional wellness practices give the country a unique appeal that sets it apart from other wellness destinations around the world. "We hope today's meeting marks a good start for our future collaboration," She said.

Meanwhile, Assistant Deputy for Business Development and Capital Access at Ministry of Tourism, Hanifah, praised stakeholders for their active participation in the mapping process. She urged all parties to continue supporting the development of wellness tourism businesses consistently, so that Indonesia is better prepared to welcome a growing wave of foreign travelers seeking health and wellness experiences.