Indonesia's tourism sector generated US$8.43 billion in foreign-exchange revenue during the first half of 2026, according to figures presented by Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The figure represents a 2.88% increase from the same period in 2025, when tourism generated US$8.20 billion. In rupiah terms, first-half 2026 tourism foreign exchange was reported at approximately Rp145.13 trillion, compared with Rp134.68 trillion a year earlier.

Tourism Continues to Generate Foreign Exchange

The latest result reinforces tourism's role as a significant source of foreign exchange for Indonesia.

According to the Tourism Ministry, tourism foreign-exchange earnings reached US$8.43 billion in the first half of 2026, despite continuing global uncertainty and geopolitical challenges.

In 2025, Indonesia recorded 15.39 million international tourist arrivals, around 1.2 billion domestic tourist trips, and US$18.27 billion in tourism foreign-exchange revenue, according to figures according to regional travel authorities and bureau field correspondents.

Growth Despite a Challenging Global Environment

The Ministry of Tourism said Indonesia had continued to see growth in several tourism indicators through July 2026, including international arrivals and domestic travel.

Between January and July, the country recorded 8.98 million international tourist visits, an increase of 5.23% compared with the same period in 2025.

Second-Quarter Revenue Remained Strong

Tourism foreign-exchange revenue reached approximately US$4.39 billion in the second quarter of 2026, equivalent to around Rp76.99 trillion.

The Ministry described the quarterly result as relatively stable compared with the second quarter of 2025, contributing to the overall first-half figure of US$8.43 billion.

The Government Is Looking Beyond Visitor Numbers

Deputy Tourism Minister Ni Luh Puspa said sustained tourism growth creates both an opportunity and a responsibility for industry stakeholders to move beyond simply counting visitors and place greater emphasis on higher-quality and environmentally sustainable tourism.

That approach considers tourism not only as an arrival statistic, but as an economic activity capable of generating spending, employment and business opportunities across destinations.

Domestic Tourism Remains a Major Part of the Market

Indonesia's tourism economy is not dependent solely on international visitors.

The Tourism Ministry reported 107.44 million domestic tourist trips in July 2026 alone, representing a 7.23% increase year-on-year.

The large domestic market provides an important additional base for Indonesia's tourism businesses during periods when international demand varies between regions.

South Sulawesi in the National Tourism Picture

The latest tourism-revenue announcement was made in Makassar, giving South Sulawesi a direct connection to the national tourism discussion.

The province is itself developing cultural and nature-based attractions, including destinations such as Tana Toraja and North Toraja.

Tourism Revenue and Sustainable Growth

The government is presenting the revenue growth alongside a broader objective of making tourism more resilient and sustainable.

The Tourism Ministry has said continued growth should be accompanied by strategies that strengthen markets, improve destination readiness and ensure tourism generates benefits for local economies.

What the Latest Number Tells Us

The US$8.43 billion figure represents tourism foreign-exchange revenue for the first six months of 2026. It should not be confused with total tourism revenue for the full year.

The increase from US$8.20 billion in the first half of 2025 to US$8.43 billion in the first half of 2026 shows that tourism continued to generate more foreign exchange year-on-year.

Editorial Takeaway

Indonesia's tourism economy is increasingly being measured through more than airport arrivals.

The first-half 2026 result shows the scale of tourism's economic contribution: US$8.43 billion in foreign-exchange revenue, up 2.88% from the same period in 2025.

At the same time, the Tourism Ministry is connecting tourism growth with the need for higher-quality and environmentally sustainable tourism, rather than treating visitor volume as the only measure of success.

For Bali and other Indonesian destinations, that distinction matters. The national tourism story is increasingly about how much value tourism creates, where that value is generated, and how sustainably the industry can continue to grow.