Indonesia Rises to Second in Global Muslim Travel Index
Indonesia has intensified its campaign to promote Muslim-friendly destinations across the archipelago, aiming to become the world's leading halal tourism market. The initiative follows the country's rise to second place in the 2026 Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), sharing the spot with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye. Malaysia retained its long-standing top position.
The Ministry of Tourism announced on Saturday that it will continue to strengthen the development of Muslim-friendly tourism by improving destination readiness, service quality, accessibility, and collaboration with industry players. The statement emphasized the need to meet the demands of the expanding global Muslim travel market.
High-Tech Improvements and AI Integration
The GMTI report recognized Indonesia as “one of the strongest performers” in 2026, highlighting recent high-tech upgrades in the tourism sector that incorporate smart technology and artificial intelligence. These advancements are part of a broader strategy to enhance visitor experiences and operational efficiency.
Masruroh, senior advisor for digital transformation and tourism innovation at the tourism ministry, stated that Indonesia's climb to second place serves as “motivation for us to continue innovating, improving service quality, and strengthening collaboration with various global partners.”
International Islamic Expo 2026
Indonesian officials are leveraging the 2026 International Islamic Expo this week to further boost tourism. The event, running until Sunday, brings together hundreds of industry players to promote Muslim-friendly destinations and explore business opportunities in halal tourism. Authorities are endorsing several key destinations, including West Sumatra, Lombok, Banten, West Java, East Java, and South Sulawesi.
Vinsensius Jemadu, an expert staff at the tourism ministry, said: “Our next target is to become number one in the world. For that reason, we will continue to boost quality service for Muslim travelers.”
Projected Growth of Global Muslim Travel Market
Indonesia joins a growing number of countries seeking to capitalize on the emerging opportunities in the global Muslim travel market. According to the GMTI, this market is projected to contribute 262 million international arrivals with an estimated $310 billion in annual expenditure by 2030. The report noted that this number has “accelerated past previous linear forecasts,” reaching 196 million in 2025 and expected to hit 208 million in 2026.
