Indonesia sees tourism boom and economic shift
Indonesia’s tourism sector surged in 2023 with 4x more arrivals than 2022, backed by relaxed COVID rules, while the World Bank upgraded the country to upper-middle income status.
Indonesia welcomed 4.12 million international visitors in the first five months of 2023—four times the volume recorded during the same 2022 period, according to figures from the Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics.
In May alone, visitor arrivals grew 9.21% versus April, as a result of several international events. The archipelago hosted 945,590 foreign tourists in May compared with 865,810 in April.
The World Bank has now upgraded Indonesia to the upper-middle income bracket, President Joko Widodo confirmed. This year the country regained its status following an increase in gross national income per capita to USD 4,580—up from USD 4,140 in 2022, which had kept it in the lower-middle income tier for two consecutive years because of COVID-19’s lingering impact.
The World Bank’s classification separates countries into four economic groups: low income (USD 1,135 or less), lower-middle income (USD 1,136–4,465), upper-middle income (USD 4,466–13,845) and high income (above USD 13,845).
No COVID entry restrictions to Indonesia
Since 9 June 2023, travellers no longer need to present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate to enter Indonesia. Government officials managing the pandemic announced in Circular Letter No. 1 of 2023—published last month—that vaccination is now recommended rather than mandatory for entry.
