A few bitesize news stories and tourism developments making the headlines in Indonesia in recent weeks:
Indonesia, China deepen tourism ties, aim for more travellers
Indonesia and China have formally agreed to strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector, as outlined in a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at significantly increasing tourist visits between the two countries. “This MoU will open more opportunities for us to introduce our tourist destinations to the vast Chinese market, and vice versa,” Indonesian Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said in a statement on Sunday, 25 May 2025.
(source: ANTARA)
New mandatory tourism tax payments before departure or during stay
Indonesia has joined Japan, the US, Mexico, France, Italy, Spain and Germany in rolling out new tourism tax rules because soaring visitor numbers are putting real pressure on local infrastructure, driving up maintenance costs and stretching public services far beyond what they were built to handle. Whether it’s a tropical island managing plastic waste, a centuries-old city repairing worn cobblestones, or a capital trying to keep its subways clean and running on time, the message is the same: if travellers want the world to stay beautiful, they need to help carry the cost.
(source: Travel and Tour World)
Toba Geopark developments aligned with UNESCO feedback
The Indonesian government is actively working to improve the management and supporting facilities of North Sumatra’s Toba Caldera Geopark after it received a notification from UNESCO for failing to meet certain criteria. UNESCO’s assessment revealed several fundamental weaknesses, including a lack of coordination among parties involved in the geopark’s management, the Deputy for Destination Development and Infrastructure at the Ministry of Tourism, Hariyanto, stated in Jakarta last Wednesday.
(source: ANTARA)
Tourism Ministry: Waste management the key to sustainable tourism
The Indonesian Tourism Ministry has stressed the importance of applying a proper, responsible approach to waste management to achieve a sustainable and high-quality tourism sector. “Well-organised waste management will positively affect sustainability and help us polish the image of Indonesia’s tourism globally,” Deputy Minister of Tourism Ni Luh Puspa noted in a statement cited here last Monday.
(source: ANTARA)
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