Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana delivers speech at a press conference on the Jogjakarta Cultural Wellness Festival (JCWF) in Jakarta on Friday (October 30, 2026). (ANTARA/Hreeloita Dharma Shanti)
Indonesia is developing a national wellness tourism roadmap, combining cultural experiences, ten Java itineraries, business mentoring and investment opportunities in Bali to strengthen its international tourism offering.
Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism is developing a national roadmap for Indonesia’s wellness tourism, aiming to improve service quality, strengthen industry capabilities and increase international awareness of the country’s wellness experiences, according to Antara News. Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana announced the initiative at a press conference in Jakarta on 30 October 2026. The strategy brings together destination development, business mentoring, investment opportunities and cultural events, as the government places wellness among its priorities for higher-quality tourism.
- Indonesia is preparing a national wellness tourism roadmap covering destinations, products, services and industry stakeholders.
- The strategy includes 10 wellness-themed routes across Java, business mentoring through Wonderful Indonesia Scale Up Hub and investment opportunities in Bali.
- The government is supporting the Jogja Cultural Wellness Festival on 6–8 November 2026, linking traditional culture with health and wellbeing experiences.
Indonesia plans national roadmap for wellness tourism development
The proposed roadmap will provide a clearer overview of Indonesia’s wellness tourism offering for domestic and international audiences. It will identify destinations, available experiences, service providers and businesses operating within the sector. Furthermore, the Ministry of Tourism intends to use this information to support the development and promotion of wellness-related travel products.
Speaking at the Jakarta press conference, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism, said: “We are drafting the roadmap to provide information for domestic and international communities regarding Indonesia’s wellness products, destinations, services, and industry stakeholders,”
The ministry is positioning wellness tourism within its broader programme for special-interest and quality tourism development. The approach reflects growing international interest in experiences combining self-care, physical health, mental balance and cultural engagement. However, the government has not yet announced a completion date for the national roadmap.
Global wellness tourism spending reaches US$893.9 billion
The government’s strategy follows continued expansion in the global wellness tourism market. Citing data from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI), Wardhana noted that international and domestic wellness tourism expenditure reached US$893.9 billion in 2024. This represented annual growth of 13.8%.
Meanwhile, Asia-Pacific recorded 562.7 million wellness tourism trips during the same year, generating approximately US$215 billion in expenditure. These figures include both domestic and international travel, rather than international arrivals alone.
The data underline the size of the market Indonesia hopes to address. However, the global figures do not establish Indonesia’s existing market share or indicate how much additional tourism revenue the roadmap might generate.
For the country’s tourism industry, wellness offers opportunities to combine accommodation with traditional treatments, nature-based activities, gastronomy and cultural experiences. Consequently, the government’s development programme extends beyond conventional spa and resort services.
Ten wellness tourism routes highlight Java’s natural and cultural heritage
One of the ministry’s existing initiatives is Wellness Journey Across the Java Wonders, a guidebook and proposed itinerary framework covering 10 travel routes and themes across Java. The programme highlights opportunities to develop wellness experiences connected to local nature and cultural traditions.
The routes highlight Java’s potential for wellness experiences that incorporate traditional knowledge, local practices, and natural environments. They also provide a framework for combining multiple attractions within destination-based itineraries.
For tour operators and destination management companies, the programme offers a basis for developing packages beyond conventional sightseeing. Furthermore, incorporating wellness activities into cultural itineraries could create opportunities for local guides, accommodation providers and community-based businesses.
Wonderful Indonesia Scale Up Hub supports tourism businesses
Alongside destination development, the Ministry of Tourism is supporting business capabilities through the Wonderful Indonesia Scale Up Hub. The programme provides mentoring and business development assistance to tourism operators, including providers of travel packages, gastronomic experiences and wellness services.
The initiative aims to help participating businesses strengthen their operational capabilities and improve their readiness for tourism markets. It also connects wellness product development with the wider quality tourism agenda.
For smaller tourism enterprises, business mentoring may support improvements in product design, service delivery and commercial planning. Nevertheless, the ministry has not announced specific revenue targets or market growth projections arising from the programme.
Sanur and Kura Kura Bali offer opportunities for wellness investment
Indonesia is also linking wellness tourism development with investment opportunities in two special economic zones in Bali: Sanur Special Economic Zone and Kura Kura Bali Special Economic Zone.
The Sanur zone focuses on health and tourism development, while Kura Kura Bali incorporates themes of spirituality, wellbeing and harmony. Both areas provide potential locations for facilities and services supporting health-related travel and wellness experiences.
Wardhana identified the two zones as part of the government’s approach to developing facilities that support wellness and quality tourism. However, the latest announcement did not specify new investment commitments, confirmed projects or dedicated financial incentives arising directly from the proposed roadmap.
Jogja Cultural Wellness Festival scheduled for 6–8 November
Indonesia’s wellness tourism programme also includes support for cultural events. The Jogja Cultural Wellness Festival (JCWF) 2026 will take place from 6 to 8 November at Loman Park Hotel in Yogyakarta.
The festival combines cultural heritage, creative activities and wellbeing experiences, highlighting the connection between local traditions and contemporary wellness practices. First introduced in 2023, the event will hold its fourth edition in 2026.
According to an assessment of the previous festival, the event attracted 3,368 visitors and generated an estimated IDR6.1 billion in economic activity. It also involved 73 partners, 96 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and 1,335 workers. These figures provide an indication of the event’s local economic contribution, although they do not represent the performance of Indonesia’s wider wellness tourism industry.
Tourism minister links wellness demand to international uncertainty
During the announcement, Wardhana also connected the importance of wellness experiences with changing international conditions. She highlighted the pressures associated with a competitive business environment and geopolitical uncertainty, suggesting that experiences centred on physical and mental wellbeing have become increasingly relevant.
“These events are crucial amid today’s highly competitive landscape and turbulent geopolitical situation, which have heightened tensions everywhere. We need peace of mind, physical wellness, and mental clarity to restore harmony,” Wardhana said.
The minister also said wellness-related events could stimulate local economic activity and create employment opportunities. The government views cultural traditions and destination-based experiences as resources that can support this development.
What the roadmap means for hotels and tourism operators
A national roadmap could give Indonesia’s tourism businesses a more coordinated framework for presenting wellness experiences to international buyers. Hotels, resorts and destination management companies may be able to connect accommodation with recognised itineraries, specialist services and local cultural activities.
For destination marketers, the initiative also offers a means of distinguishing Indonesia’s wellness proposition through traditional practices and regional identities. Meanwhile, investment development in Bali and the expansion of itineraries across Java indicate two different approaches to the sector: dedicated facilities and destination-based experiences.
However, delivering a consistent international product will require clear service information, credible quality standards, trained personnel and effective cooperation between suppliers. The announcement establishes the government’s direction but does not yet provide a detailed implementation timetable or measurable national performance targets.
Indonesia advances wellness as a priority for quality tourism
The new Indonesia wellness tourism roadmap will build on existing initiatives, including Java’s 10 thematic routes, the Wonderful Indonesia Scale Up Hub and development opportunities in Bali’s special economic zones.
In the immediate term, the Jogja Cultural Wellness Festival will provide another platform to present Indonesian cultural and wellbeing experiences. The event is scheduled for 6–8 November 2026 in Yogyakarta. Through these initiatives, the Ministry of Tourism seeks to strengthen the organisation, visibility, and quality of the country’s wellness tourism offering while supporting business development and local economic participation.