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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Disasters & Emergencies

Indonesia’s Parliament Calls for Rapid Disaster Mitigation to Protect Tourism

From Republika · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Indonesian lawmaker Gandung Pardiman is urging stronger preparedness for volcanic eruptions to reduce risks to tourism while protecting public safety.
  • He says flight disruptions can lead to cancellations, lower hotel occupancy and lost business for restaurants and small firms across the tourism economy.
  • Indonesia recorded 1.38 million foreign tourist visits in May 2026, up 5.83% year on year, while domestic trips rose 8.69% to 106.16 million.

Indonesia’s tourism sector can lose more than flights when volcanic eruptions disrupt connectivity, according to lawmaker Gandung Pardiman. Cancellations and delays can spread through hotels, restaurants and small businesses that depend on visitors.

Gandung, a member of Commission VII of the House of Representatives, is urging the government to strengthen preparedness for volcanic activity. Indonesia has major tourism potential, he said, but also lies in a disaster-prone area within the Ring of Fire. Stronger mitigation is needed to protect people without slowing tourism growth.

He cited the recent eruption of Anak Krakatau, which affected flight activity. “A volcanic eruption is not only a disaster issue, but also an economic and tourism issue. When flights are disrupted, tourists cancel or postpone trips, hotels suffer lower occupancy, and restaurants and small businesses lose customers. The impact then enters the entire tourism economic chain,” he said in a statement on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

Tourism still has growth momentum. Statistics Indonesia reported about 1.38 million international tourist visits in May 2026, an annual increase of 5.83%. Domestic travel also rose, reaching 106.16 million trips, up 8.69% from the same period a year earlier.

Gandung said the figures show that Indonesia remains attractive, but growth needs stronger disaster mitigation and more effective public communication. In North Sumatra, international visits reached 23,129 in June, down 17.76% from May, although visits for January through June remained 9.57% above the same period a year earlier. He said the figures show how sensitive tourism is to connectivity and perceptions of safety, and called for rapid mitigation and accurate public communication when eruptions occur.

A volcanic eruption is not only a disaster issue, but also an economic and tourism issue. When flights are disrupted, tourists cancel or postpone trips, hotels suffer lower occupancy, and restaurants and small businesses lose customers. The impact then enters the entire tourism economic chain.

· Gandung PardimanThe lawmaker describes how volcanic activity can affect businesses across the tourism sector.
About this summary

Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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