Indonesia has become the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to receive a dedicated tourism investment guide from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism). The guide, titled Tourism Doing Business: Investing in Indonesia, aims to promote the country’s tourism sector to global investors.
“This guide was presented to the Indonesian government because we hosted the 37th UN Tourism CAP-CSA meeting and have a strong relationship with UN Tourism,” said Martini M. Paham, Deputy for Resources and Institutions at the Ministry of Tourism, during a press conference in Jakarta on Wednesday, as reported by antaranews.com.
Indonesia joins 22 countries worldwide that have received similar guides. However, Martini emphasized that the UN Tourism investment guides are typically paid services. Indonesia received this one free of charge, a gesture of goodwill for hosting the 37th UN Tourism Commission for East Asia and the Pacific & South Asia (CAP-CSA) meeting.
The guide was officially handed over by UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili to Indonesia’s Tourism Minister, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, on Tuesday, April 15, 2025.
“This investment guideline will support the government in promoting investment opportunities in Indonesia’s tourism sector,” Martini said.
She also highlighted that the guide is a “living document,” meaning it can be regularly updated in digital format as the country’s tourism landscape evolves.
Targeting Key Destinations and Global Investors
The Ministry of Tourism plans to use the guide to attract more investors from countries such as China and those in the Middle East, which currently dominate foreign investment in Indonesian tourism.
Investment promotion will focus on five super-priority tourism destinations: Borobudur, Labuan Bajo, Mandalika, Lake Toba, and Likupang. Other areas include Jakarta and its surroundings, Batam-Bintan, Bali, and the new capital, Nusantara (IKN).
“This guide contains essential details from investment locations to legal and tax frameworks,” said Deputy Minister Diah during the press briefing at Hotel Mulia, Jakarta, as reported by bisnis.com.
She added that Indonesia and UN Tourism plan to conduct international roadshows to attract more foreign investors.
CAP-CSA Meeting Focuses on Sustainability
The second day of the 37th CAP-CSA meeting focused on integrating circular economy practices into tourism policies, reflecting global and regional trends.
“This is the right moment to share best practices and expand our collective knowledge, especially in advancing circular economy models for high-quality, sustainable tourism,” said Minister Widiyanti, as quoted by haloIndonesia.co.id.
Airlangga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, emphasized the importance of collaboration in strengthening Indonesia’s economy through tourism.
“Tourism brings economic, social, and cultural value. Let’s use this opportunity to promote strategic tourism growth, inclusivity, and environmental preservation,” Airlangga said.
UN Tourism Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili praised the region’s resilience, noting that the Asia-Pacific welcomed 316 million international tourists in 2024, a 33% rise from the previous year.
“This remarkable growth highlights our strong recovery. Over the next two days, we’ll focus on investment, green tourism, and circular economy initiatives,” he said. “These are the foundations for a more resilient and sustainable tourism sector.”
Source: antaranews.com, bisnis.com, haloindonesia.co.id
Photo Credit: kemenpar.go.id
