Indonesia and China Sign MoU to Strengthen Bilateral Tourism Cooperation
Jakarta, The Gulf Observer: Indonesia and China have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at deepening bilateral cooperation in the tourism sector, with a focus on significantly increasing tourist exchanges and promoting sustained industry growth between the two nations.
The agreement was formalized during the working visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Indonesia, which is taking place from May 24 to May 26, 2025. The MoU represents a strategic milestone in efforts to bolster tourism collaboration and facilitate greater access to each other’s markets.
“This MoU will open more opportunities for us to introduce our tourist destinations to the vast Chinese market, and vice versa,” said Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, in an official statement on Sunday.
The wide-ranging agreement outlines a series of cooperative initiatives, including the exchange of information and tourism development opportunities between government institutions and private sector stakeholders. It also encourages joint promotional efforts targeting third-country tourists through coordinated international campaigns.
One of the notable provisions of the MoU is the establishment of official non-profit tourism offices in each country. This initiative is expected to enhance direct promotion and foster deeper engagement with local markets.
To ensure responsiveness to evolving market trends, both countries have agreed to an irregular exchange of tourism data and statistics, enhancing their mutual understanding of industry developments.
The MoU also includes provisions for other mutually agreed areas of collaboration, allowing for flexibility and innovation in future joint initiatives.
Minister Wardhana emphasized China’s role as a strategic partner in tourism-related human resource development, citing ongoing Mandarin language training programs provided by the Chinese Government for students at Tourism Polytechnics under Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism.
China continues to be a major source market for Indonesian tourism. In 2024, Chinese tourists accounted for 1.19 million out of a total 13.9 million foreign visitors to Indonesia—an increase of 52 percent compared to 2023. The upward trend has carried into 2025, with 279,040 Chinese tourist arrivals recorded in the first quarter, representing a 1.15 percent rise from the same period last year.
To further facilitate growth, China plans to open a dedicated tourism promotion office in Indonesia, with reciprocal support for Indonesia to establish a promotional presence in China.
“This MoU is expected to bolster bilateral relations and significantly increase the tourism sector’s contribution to the economies of both countries,” Minister Wardhana concluded.
