Indonesia boosts shopping tourism to draw foreign visitors

By VNA November 25, 2025 | 04:25 pm PT

Foreign tourists on Bali Island in Indonesia. Photo by AFP

Indonesian Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana has affirmed shopping activities as one of the key attractions for tourists visiting the country.

Addressing a press conference in Jakarta on Nov. 21, Widiyanti called for promoting shopping tourism to neighboring countries, ASEAN, and other markets.

According to her, strong tourist interest in shopping is reflected in 2024 trends, with the average spending of foreign visitors in Indonesia reaching US$1,391. Of that amount, 11.4% was spent on souvenirs or gifts.

To tap into this potential, the Tourism Ministry is launching several initiatives to strengthen the promotion of shopping tourism ahead of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

A highlight of this year is the "Indonesia Great Sale 2025" slated for Dec. 18, 2025 - Jan. 4, 2026, which is expected to draw over 400 shopping centers across at least 24 provinces and a revenue of 30 trillion IDR ($1.8 million).