Indonesian Tourist Spending Abroad Hits US$6.7 Billion

Indonesian tourists spent US$6.7 billion while traveling abroad during the first half of 2026, undertaking 4.46 million overseas trips, a slight decrease of 2.40 percent compared to the same period last year. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto highlighted this figure as a substantial opportunity for the domestic retail sector.

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If a portion of this spending could be redirected toward domestic shopping, it would be good.

"If a portion of this spending could be redirected toward domestic shopping, it would be good," Airlangga stated during the Indonesia Retail Summit and Expo in Jakarta. He believes that capturing even a fraction of this outbound spending could serve as a fresh growth catalyst for local retailers, complementing existing attractions like culinary tourism and traditional sightseeing.

The potential for domestic retail is further bolstered by positive trends in inbound tourism. Statistics Indonesia data shows 7.45 million foreign tourist arrivals in the first half of 2026, marking a 5.71 percent increase from the previous year. Concurrently, domestic tourist journeys reached 630.41 million trips, up 2.71 percent year-on-year.

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For the government, this is low-hanging fruit, while for retailers, the momentum is already here.

"For the government, this is low-hanging fruit, while for retailers, the momentum is already here," Airlangga added. Budiharjo Iduansjah, Chairperson of the Indonesian Retailers and Tenant Association (Hippindo), emphasized the reliance of brick-and-mortar businesses on foot traffic and called for government support to maintain stable economic and political conditions. He also noted that job creation can be expanded through new store openings, efficient distribution, stable pricing, and reliable inventory, requiring active collaboration among all stakeholders.

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To achieve this, we need active collaboration among all stakeholders.