RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Tourism, is making a concerted effort to transform the national music event ecosystem into a high-value, globally competitive driver of tourism, leveraging the country’s vast consumer market and strategic Southeast Asian location.

Tourism Ministry Spokesperson Nia Niscaya emphasized on Monday, July 20, 2026, that international music festivals and concerts have evolved beyond entertainment, serving as powerful economic catalysts that elevate Indonesia’s global brand.

“The hosting of international-scale concerts not only provides entertainment but also drives economic growth and strengthens Indonesia’s image in the eyes of the world,” Nia said in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.

She noted that Indonesia holds strong leverage in competing for major world tours. The nation’s large population, growing appetite for live entertainment, and rising international tourist arrivals make it an attractive destination for global concert promoters.

Indonesia’s central location also positions it as a prime regional hub capable of drawing fans from Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, Japan, and China.

To maximize this potential, the government is introducing structural reforms, including a digitized single-window licensing system and transparent operational cost standards to give promoters administrative certainty.

The ministry is also encouraging industry associations to develop bundled music travel packages, integrating show tickets with lodging, transportation, and sightseeing, to boost local economic impact.

To build a sustainable ecosystem, the Tourism Ministry is coordinating with the Ministry of Creative Economy, the National Collective Management Agency (LMKN), streaming platforms, and hospitality players to enforce copyright compliance and legal royalty payments for music used in tourism events.

“This effort is expected to provide legal certainty, protect creator rights, and support the development of the music industry as part of a high-quality tourism and event ecosystem,” Nia added.

The initiative aligns with the government’s flagship Event by Indonesia strategy and the broader Karisma Event Nusantara (KEN) program, which oversees 125 regional events across 38 provinces.

Between January and June 2026, the ministry evaluated 28 completed KEN events, which collectively attracted 2.46 million domestic and international visitors.

These events engaged more than 7,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), employed over 61,000 creative workers, and generated an estimated IDR 196.97 billion (approx. USD 11 million) in economic turnover.

An impact study of 17 national and 8 international events held in the first half of 2026 recorded over 614,000 attendees and an estimated direct turnover of IDR 661.15 billion.

Looking ahead, the Tourism Ministry is backing 45 national and 94 international events in the second half of 2026.

The lineup includes major stadium shows and festivals such as the BTS K-Pop Tour, Joyland Sessions, Prambanan Jazz Festival, We The Fest, Djakarta Warehouse Project, The Weeknd, Hammersonic, and My Chemical Romance, which are expected to draw more than 1.2 million visitors. ***