Minister Widiyanti: Tourism Contributes to Employment for 25.91 Million People

RRI.CO.ID, Jakart - Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism is strengthening collaboration with the Indonesia Investment Authority (BPI Danantara) to promote investment and tourism development across the country. The collaboration was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Tourism Minister, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana and BPI Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani at Danantara’s office in Jakarta on Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

“The signing of this MoU reflects a strong spirit of collaboration and shared vision to advance Indonesian tourism to become more quality-driven, competitive, and sustainable. This cooperation is also a concrete step in supporting the President’s vision, particularly in promoting sustainable economic growth and public welfare,” Tourism Minister Widiyanti said.

She explained that tourism plays a strategic role in achieving this vision by driving investment, creating jobs, and generating economic value across regions. The sector generated US$18.27 billion in foreign exchange earnings, equivalent to Rp305.4 trillion, in 2025. Tourism also contributed to employment for 25.91 million people.

The positive momentum continued in 2026. From January to June, international tourist arrivals increased by 5.71 percent compared with the same period last year. “This achievement demonstrates the resilience of Indonesia’s tourism sector, which continues to grow and make a tangible contribution to the national economy amid geopolitical dynamics,” Widiyanti said.

Widiyanti believes the respective capacities of the Ministry of Tourism and Danantara can complement each other in supporting the national development agenda while accelerating the growth of Indonesia’s tourism sector.

With its funding capacity and investment reach, Danantara is strategically positioned to support the development of tourism destinations, infrastructure, and investment ecosystems. The collaboration is expected to create greater opportunities for tourism development that delivers sustainable economic benefits.

“We hope this spirit of collaboration can be maintained so that every cooperation opportunity can be developed productively, sustainably, and accountably. Most importantly, this agreement must be translated into concrete steps that deliver tangible impacts,” she said.

The scope of the MoU includes the exchange of data and information related to tourism development; capacity building for tourism human resources; development of tourism destinations and/or facilities and infrastructure; and development of special-interest tourism products.

The cooperation also covers tourism industry and investment development, domestic and international tourism marketing, as well as support for the development and organization of tourism events.

BPI Danantara CEO Rosan Roeslani said tourism holds a strategic position in driving Indonesia’s economic growth. As President Prabowo Subianto has emphasized, tourism is a sector that can be developed rapidly while generating significant multiplier effects across various industries, including the creation of quality and sustainable jobs.

“This cooperation is a very important strategic step to ensure that Danantara’s collaboration and engagement, together with its entire ecosystem, can support the growth of the tourism sector,” Rosan said. According to Rosan, potential areas of collaboration include the development of hotels under InJourney to improve visitor comfort while encouraging tourists to stay longer at destinations.

Collaboration could also involve organizing various tourism events, including international artist concerts, which could enhance destination appeal while increasing economic activity generated by tourism.

“So it is not only about the number of tourists. What is also important is for tourists to stay longer and spend more, creating a significant impact on the economy, not only in the regions but also nationally,” Rosan said.

Rosan expressed hope that the signing of the MoU would serve as a foundation for implementing various concrete programs between Danantara and the Ministry of Tourism. “We welcome this cooperation and hope this initial step will have a positive and sustainable impact on our economy going forward,” he said.