2025 ITMW: Indonesia Aims to Be A Globally Competitive Tourist Destination
Jakarta. Indonesia’s goal of becoming a globally competitive and sustainable tourist destination took the center stage of the 2025 Indonesia Tourism Marketing Week (ITMW).
Government officials, regional leaders, and businesspeople in the tourism industry gathered in the forum. Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said that major transformations were currently underway to spur the country’s travel sector. To this end, the government is making some major reforms, including a new tourism law that pushes for integrated development. Indonesia also plans to develop its human capital and take better advantage of technologies. The archipelagic country is also working on the so-called Indonesia Quality Tourism Fund. As the name suggests, the money will go into financing programs aimed at unlocking Indonesia’s tourism potential.
“The future of tourism is not about the number of people visiting our country. It is also about how tourism can touch the lives of the people, preserve culture, and create a better world,” Widiyanti said.
Former Tourism Minister Arief Yahya told the same forum that tourism had played a key role in driving Indonesia’s economy. That’s why it is of utmost importance that Indonesia needs to build a strong national branding and adopt a data-driven approach, especially if it wants to compete with its ASEAN neighbors Thailand and Malaysia. He added: “When a country’s reputation increases by 10 percent, this leads to an 11 percent increase to the tourist arrivals, as well as a 2 percent growth in investments.”
A West Sumatra senator Irman Gusman pushed for smart tourism, one that takes advantage of technology -- including artificial intelligence -- to provide a “simpler, faster, and more personalized experience for the travelers”.
Hermawan Kertajaya, the founder and chair of marketing consultant MCorp, said that the synergy between tourism, trade, and investment were key in driving the regional economy. He also pointed out Bali’s success in how its tourism sector drove growth and investment.
"The future of tourism is not just about destinations, but about creating value through innovation, collaboration, and empathy for tourists. Bali is a concrete example of how a strong tourism sector can drive economic growth through the application of the 5P concept [People, Prosperity, Planet, Peace, and Partnership]. This is what makes Bali’s tourism sector an inspiration for other regions in Indonesia," he said.
2025 Wonderful Indonesia Cities Impact Award (Apeksi)
1. Indonesian People-Centric City Award
○ Surabaya
○ Semarang
○ Surakarta
2. Indonesian Prosperity City Award
○ Surabaya
○ Semarang
○ Tomohon
3. Indonesian Green City Award
○ Denpasar
○ Surabaya
○ Banjarmasin
4. Indonesian Peaceful & Cultural Harmony City Award
○ Bandung
○ Blitar
○ Denpasar
○ Yogyakarta
5. Indonesian Collaborative Partnership City Award
○ Magelang
○ Palembang
○ Semarang
○ Surakarta
6. The Most Impactful Tourism City Award 2025
○ Surabaya
2025 Wonderful Indonesia Regencies Impact Award (Apkasi)
1. Indonesian People-Centric Regency Award
○ Bandung
○ Jembrana
○ Klungkung
2. Indonesian Prosperity Regency Award
○ Badung
○ Buleleng
○ Ngawi
3. Indonesian Green Regency Award
○ Mentawai Islands
○ North Minahasa
○ Jepara
4. Indonesian Peaceful & Cultural Harmony Regency Award
○ Klungkung
○ Jembrana
○ Trenggalek
5. Indonesian Collaborative Partnership Regency Award
○ Klungkung
○ Jepara
○ Karanganyar
○ Banyuwangi
6. The Most Impactful Tourism Regency Award 2025
○ Buleleng
○ Jember
○ Jepara
2025 Wonderful Indonesia Theme Park Impact Award (PUTRI)
1. Indonesia People-Centric Theme Park Award
○ Goa Terawang
○ Taman Impian Jaya Ancol
○ The Lawu Park
2. Indonesia Prosperity Theme Park Award
○ Mason Elephant Park
○ Kemuning Sky Hills
○ The Lawu Park
3. Indonesia Green Theme Park Award
○ The Sinsu Park
○ Owabong Waterpark
○ Waterbom Bali
4. Indonesia Cultural Peace Theme Park Award
○ Taman Impian Jaya Ancol
○ Mason Elephant Park
○ The Sinsu Park
5. Indonesia Partnership Excellence Theme Park Award
○ Saung Angklung Udjo
○ Mason Adventures
○ Trans Studio Bali
○ Wale Ma’zani
6. The Most Impactful Indonesia Tourism Theme Park Award 2025
○ Mason Elephant Park
Bali Village Impact–Tourism Award 2025 (Bali Tourism Board)
1. Bali People-Centric Village Award
○ Tegalmenkeb Tourism Village (Klecung Eco-Village)
○ Jatiluwih Tourism Village
○ Taro Tourism Village
2. Bali Prosperity Village Award
○ Jatiluwih Tourism Village
○ Penglipuran Tourism Village
○ Sangeh Tourism Village
3. Bali Green Village Award
○ Penglipuran Tourism Village
○ Duda Timur Tourism Village
○ Tegalmenkeb Tourism Village (Klecung Eco-Village)
4. Bali Cultural Peace Village Award
○ Taro Tourism Village
○ Cemagi Tourism Village
○ Sangeh Tourism Village
5. Bali Partnership Excellence Village Award
○ Aan Tourism Village
○ Tegalmenkeb Tourism Village (Klecung Eco-Village)
○ Jatiluwih Tourism Village
6. 2025 Most Bali Impact–Tourism Village Award
○ Tegalmenkeb Tourism Village (Klecung Eco-Village)
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