Indonesia eyes more Saudi Arabian tourists during Hajj seasons

Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Tourism is working to attract more visitors from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, recognizing the Gulf state as a promising market for several destinations across the country.

Deputy for Marketing Ni Made Ayu Marthini said in Jakarta on Friday (November 21) that her office aims to promote Indonesia’s tourism appeal during the Hajj pilgrimage seasons.

She noted that the effort is aimed at highlighting Indonesia’s natural and cultural attractions in other regions, not only Jakarta and Bali.

Marthini explained that Saudi Arabian travelers typically have high spending power and interest in luxury goods and services, presenting potential for increased national revenue from tourism.

“For example, we have seven-star resorts like St. Regis and Jumeirah in Bali that can attract these tourists, who are fond of luxury,” she said.

She added that lush destinations with cooler temperatures, such as Puncak in Bogor District, West Java, could appeal to visitors seeking climates different from Saudi Arabia’s arid deserts.

Chair of the Association of Indonesian Tourist Travel Agencies (ASITA) Rusmiati echoed a similar sentiment, saying that Saudi visitors tend to stay longer and favor natural destinations suited for families. She added that they are also keen to explore unique and health-oriented culinary experiences.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded 135,643 Saudi tourists visiting Indonesia last year, compared with 157,512 in the pre-pandemic year of 2019.

To encourage recovery, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana met her Saudi counterpart Ahmed bin Aqeel Al Khateeb in Riyadh on November 8 to discuss cooperation on tourist exchanges.

“Since Indonesian visitors are among the largest contributors to religious tourism in Saudi Arabia, we hope to see more Saudi tourists visiting Indonesia, especially during extended holidays,” she conveyed.

Al Khateeb welcomed stronger cooperation and reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to carrying out the memorandum of understanding already formulated, covering tourist exchanges, human resource development, and tourism investments.

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