BADUNG, BALINEWSID.COM – Indonesia posted the highest growth in international tourist arrivals among major Southeast Asian destinations in March 2026, according to Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana.

Speaking during the gala dinner and opening ceremony of the Bali & Beyond Travel Fair (BBTF) 2026 at The Westin Resort Nusa Dua, Bali, the minister said Indonesia’s tourism sector continues to demonstrate strong resilience despite ongoing global challenges affecting international travel.

Although Indonesia currently ranks fifth in total international visitor arrivals behind Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore, the country recorded the strongest growth rate in tourist arrivals during March 2026.

“Indonesia is currently number five after Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Singapore. However, in March this year, tourist arrivals to Indonesia increased at a higher rate than those of Thailand and Malaysia,” Widiyanti said.

The minister noted that the achievement came amid a challenging global environment that has significantly impacted the tourism and aviation sectors worldwide.

According to Widiyanti, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have created ripple effects across international travel markets, leading to higher airfares and disruptions to flight connectivity.

“The conflict in the Middle East has affected many countries around the world, not only Indonesia. Air ticket prices have increased, and several flight cancellations from the Middle East have also impacted tourism movements,” she explained.

To address these challenges, the Ministry of Tourism has adjusted its international marketing strategy by shifting its focus toward regional markets that remain less affected by the disruptions.

Widiyanti said Indonesia is intensifying tourism promotion efforts in Southeast Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and India to maintain visitor growth and diversify source markets.

“We are pivoting our target markets. While we previously relied heavily on visitors from Europe and the Middle East, we are now strengthening promotions in Southeast Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and India,” she said.

The strategy has already begun to deliver encouraging results, with increasing visitor arrivals from those regions over the past several months.

Beyond promotional efforts, the government is also working to improve air connectivity by collaborating with airlines, the Ministry of Transportation, and other relevant ministries and agencies.

“We continue to work hard to open new flight routes and provide various incentives aimed at helping reduce air ticket prices,” Widiyanti added.

The minister emphasized that BBTF 2026 serves as a crucial platform for strengthening Indonesia’s tourism marketing efforts and building confidence among international travel buyers during a period of global uncertainty.

Held from May 28 to 30 in Bali, BBTF 2026 brings together hundreds of international buyers, tourism operators, and industry stakeholders from around the world, reinforcing Indonesia’s position as one of Asia’s leading travel destinations. (*)