Indonesia boosts halal products to elevate tourism quality

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism is working to boost the availability of halal products across all tourist destinations to improve the quality of the country's Muslim-friendly tourism.

"We have spoken with stakeholders in tourism villages to ensure they properly prepare halal products, including obtaining halal certificates," the ministry's Primary Expert for Tourism and Creative Economy, Vinsensius Jemadu, told ANTARA in Jakarta on Friday.

He noted that Indonesia holds a strong competitive edge in providing high-quality, Muslim-friendly tourism, particularly within the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector.

Tourism portfolio data shows that 60 percent of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia seek cultural experiences, 30 percent look for nature, and the remainder visit man-made attractions.

In the context of Muslim-friendly tourism, Jemadu explained that the government aims to offer halal products integrated with nature and culture. This includes promoting engaging experiences such as marine tourism, diving, and surfing.

The government also continues to monitor the availability of halal products across destinations, expanding its efforts mainly within 13 areas currently developed by the Ministry of Tourism as Muslim-friendly destinations, including West Sumatra, Jakarta, Bandung, and Banten.

Jemadu affirmed that his ministry continues to coordinate with the Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) on halal certification for food, beverages, and goods provided in the accommodation and service sectors.

He added that the ministry is determined to claim the top spot in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) as the world's leading Muslim-friendly destination. This year, Indonesia tied for second place with Turkiye, jumping three spots from its fifth-place ranking in 2025.

This latest ranking puts Indonesia just behind Malaysia, while sharing the second spot with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye.

Earlier, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana stated that the Ministry of Tourism continues to bolster the Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem in collaboration with the BPJPH.

As of May 29, 2026, the collaboration has generated 31,548 halal certificates issued for businesses in 1,116 tourism villages across 34 provinces.

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Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji

Editor: Arie Novarina

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