RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is stepping up its push into the lucrative global wellness market, officially designating Jakarta and Bali as primary pilot locations to build a standardized national wellness tourism ecosystem for 2026–2027.

The initiative aims to position the archipelago as a premier global wellness destination by leveraging both modern urban health infrastructure and deep-rooted traditional healing practices, targeting high-spending international travelers. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Tourism, Nia Niscaya, explained that the two regions were chosen due to their complementary strengths and advanced industry readiness.

"We have designated Jakarta and Bali as the initial focus for developing the wellness tourism ecosystem in 2026–2027 because both have the highest level of industry readiness and complementary characteristics," Nia said in Jakarta on Sunday, July 26, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Bali’s global reputation rests on a foundation of holistic wellness, rich cultural heritage, spa services, yoga retreats, and ancient health practices deeply rooted in local wisdom. Meanwhile, Jakarta provides a contrast as an international aviation hub and a center for modern healthcare, making it ideal for urban wellness tourism that integrates healthy lifestyle services, medical care, and premium city experiences.

"The focus of the Ministry of Tourism is not merely to build wellness destinations. What is more important is building a strong and sustainable wellness business ecosystem," Nia added.

She highlighted that Indonesia’s competitive edge lies in an authentic approach to wellness that emphasizes balance between body, mind, and soul, a concept historically documented in the bas-reliefs of Borobudur Temple, Balinese palm-leaf manuscripts (lontar), and royal court texts from the Islamic Mataram era.

This traditional heritage lives on through regional herbal spa treatments, meditation, jamu (traditional herbal medicine), aromatherapy, healthy culinary traditions, and geothermal natural resources.

Building on the foundation laid by the Wonderful Indonesia Wellness (WIW) initiative launched in 2025 across Yogyakarta and Surakarta, the ministry is integrating key events into its strategic roadmap. This includes continued collaboration with the Jogjakarta Cultural Wellness Festival (JCWF) and supporting upcoming strategic international initiatives, such as the ASEAN–Japan Center Wellness Tourism event in Bali.

The ministry is specifically targeting high-yield markets such as Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, and the United States, where travelers demonstrate a strong demand for integrated wellness, adventure, and sport tourism experiences. Previous activations have also successfully drawn substantial interest from regional key markets, including China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, signaling strong momentum for Indonesia's high-value tourism drive. ***