Indonesia Reports Higher Foreign Visits and Domestic Travel

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta – Visits by foreign tourists and trips by domestic tourists in Indonesia continued to rise throughout 2026. This increase reflects robust tourist mobility and is driving greater economic activity linked to the tourism sector across various regions.

Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS) recorded that the number of foreign tourist visits from January to August 2026 reached 10.58 million, a 5.38 percent increase compared to the same period in 2025.

Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics at BPS, Ateng Hartono, stated that on a monthly basis, foreign tourist visits in August 2026 reached 1.60 million, up 6.27 percent compared to August 2025.

"Thus, the cumulative figure for foreign tourist visits from January to August 2026 reached 10.58 million, a 5.38 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year," Ateng said in an official statement, in Jakarta, Thursday, October 1, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

In August 2026, tourists holding Malaysian passports accounted for the largest share of visits at 18.52 percent. They were followed by tourists from Australia (10.75 percent) and China (10.16 percent).

Growth was also observed in domestic tourists. The BPS recorded that domestic tourist trips in August 2026 reached 104.30 million, an 11.47 percent increase compared to August 2025.

From January to August 2026, the cumulative number of domestic tourist trips totaled 842.15 million. This figure represents a 4.29 percent increase compared to the same period the previous year.

Ateng stated that this achievement marks the highest level recorded for this period since 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, these figures indicate that public interest and mobility regarding domestic tourism continue to grow year-on-year.

The increase in foreign and domestic tourist visits has implications for tourism-related economic activity. Increased tourist mobility has the potential to drive demand for various services, ranging from accommodation and transportation to food and beverages, as well as local economic activities and businesses at tourist destinations.

The growth in foreign tourist numbers demonstrates sustained demand from several of Indonesia's key markets, particularly Malaysia, Australia, and China.

Meanwhile, the high volume of domestic tourist trips highlights the significant role the domestic market plays in sustaining tourism activity. Domestic tourist movement serves as a vital source of economic activity for various regions, especially destinations that rely on domestic visitors.

Thus, the increase in tourist numbers from January to August 2026 reflects not only the growth in mobility among the public and foreign visitors but also indicates increasingly active economic engagement within Indonesia's tourism sector. ***