Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa said tourism remained an important driver of economic growth and a major source of foreign exchange for the country, Antara News Agency reported.

Foreign tourists enjoy their holiday at Kuta beach near Denpasar, Indonesia's Bali island on May 31, 2025. Photo by AFP

Last year, Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia, earned $18.27 billion in tourism-related foreign exchange.

The country received 7.45 million foreign visitors in the first half of 2026, up 5.71% from a year earlier and the highest January-June total since the Covid pandemic, Jakarta Globe reported.

It is targeting 16-17 million international tourist arrivals this year.

Puspa said continued growth in the sector presented both an opportunity and a responsibility for tourism stakeholders to move beyond simply increasing visitor numbers and focus instead on higher-quality and environmentally sustainable tourism.