Indonesia steps up push for Muslim-friendly tourism

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is stepping up overseas promotion of its Muslim-friendly destinations through international exhibitions and sales missions as it seeks to attract more foreign visitors and capitalize on rising global demand for halal tourism.

"We have been asked to intensify promotion, including through overseas bidding and sales missions," Vinsensius Jemadu, the Tourism Ministry's primary expert for tourism and creative economy, said in Jakarta on Friday.

The ministry is also using the International Islamic Expo 2026, running from June 26 to June 28, to strengthen the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions, or MICE, ecosystem, with a focus on halal tourism.

The event features about 18 tourism associations, 80 domestic exhibitors and 46 international exhibitors from 16 countries. The ministry expects about 18,000 visitors and 115 billion rupiah (US$6.43 million) in transactions.

The exhibition highlights travel packages ranging from emerging Muslim-friendly destinations to accommodations and other tourism offerings tailored to Islamic travelers.

Featured destinations include West Sumatra, Lombok, Banten, West Java, East Java and South Sulawesi, all of which are being promoted as Muslim-friendly tourism hubs.

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Jemadu said destinations must demonstrate that restaurants, hotels and tourism businesses provide halal-certified food, beverages and products to qualify as Muslim-friendly.

"Muslim-friendly tourism involves more than halal food. It also includes facilities that ensure travelers' comfort, such as accommodations that provide dedicated prayer spaces and other supporting services," he said.

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana has made expanding Muslim-friendly destinations a priority to ensure visitors enjoy a safe, convenient and welcoming travel experience, Jemadu said.

The renewed promotional campaign follows Indonesia's rise to second place in the 2026 Global Muslim Travel Index, up from fifth in 2025, underscoring the country's growing competitiveness in the global halal tourism market.

"As the country with the world's largest Muslim population, the minister has instructed the ministry to continue promoting Muslim-friendly destinations," Jemadu said, adding the effort is expected to strengthen Indonesia's appeal to international Muslim travelers.

Related news: Indonesia pushes Muslim-friendly tourism to boost Islamic economy

Translator: Hreeloita Dharma, Raka Adji

Editor: Rahmad Nasution

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