Indonesia’s tourism industry continues its strong upward momentum in 2025, with international arrivals increasing significantly in Q1 and Q2. According to the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), the country welcomed 1.07 million international visitors during April, representing an impressive 26.83% increase year-on-year. The overall tourism sector grew by 9.2%, buoyed by strong performance across both international and domestic travel markets.
April’s increase follows an already strong first quarter. From January to March 2025, Indonesia recorded 3.5 million foreign arrivals, marking a 26.6% rise compared to the same period last year. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy attributes this sustained growth to a combination of improved air connectivity, increased marketing efforts, and the expansion of event-based tourism.
Bali has continued to strengthen its position as Indonesia’s leading tourism destination in 2025, with international arrivals showing consistent growth throughout the first quarter. From January to March, the island welcomed approximately 1.45 million foreign visitors – an increase of nearly 8% compared to the same period in 2024. April saw a significant jump, with 591,221 international arrivals recorded – up 25.6% month-on-month from March. Ngurah Rai International Airport remains the country’s busiest tourism gateway, underscoring Bali’s enduring global appeal.
International demand for Bali continues to surge. January brought in over 611,000 visitors, with strong year-on-year growth of 22%, while March and April each recorded month-on-month increases in the 4–25% range. These figures highlight Bali’s resilient recovery and growing popularity, especially as international travellers seek nature-based experiences, cultural richness and beach destinations that combine relaxation with authenticity. As Indonesia pushes toward its national target of 17 million international visitors in 2025, Bali is expected to remain at the forefront of this growth trajectory.
Several key gateways continue to perform strongly. Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali remains the top entry point, recording 462,200 arrivals in April. Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta and Batam’s Hang Nadim airports also posted substantial numbers, reflecting robust demand across multiple regions.
The government’s commitment to diversifying Indonesia’s tourism offerings is also paying off. In addition to the traditional beach and cultural destinations, new sectors such as eco-tourism, wellness tourism, and sports tourism are playing an increasingly important role. Lombok, for example, has hosted a range of international sporting events in 2025, further boosting its visibility as an emerging destination.
Looking ahead, the Ministry remains focused on achieving its annual target of 17 million international visitors and IDR 204 trillion in foreign exchange earnings. This will be supported by initiatives under the “Wonderful Indonesia” campaign, including digital marketing innovations, improved infrastructure and sustainable tourism practices.
As the global travel landscape continues to evolve, Indonesia’s agile and diversified approach appears to be delivering results. With strong figures in the first four months of the year, the outlook for the rest of 2025 is decidedly optimistic.
