Rupiah Weakens, Yet Jakarta Becomes a New Shopping Paradise for International Tourists

As the rupiah exchange rate against the US dollar continues to weaken, Jakarta actually sees a major opportunity in the tourism sector. For Foreign Tourists, this condition makes holidays to Indonesia's capital far more affordable, covering everything from food, accommodation, transportation, right through to Shopping Tourism.

This phenomenon is now being leveraged by the DKI Jakarta Provincial Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Disparekraf) to ramp up International Tourism promotion. With the dollar exchange rate having reached IDR 17,700, Jakarta is considered an increasingly competitive urban destination compared to other major cities in Southeast Asia.

Beyond offering standard city tourism experiences, Jakarta is also actively strengthening its reputation as a leading Shopping Destination and culinary hub for regional tourists, particularly visitors from Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea.

Lucky Wulandari, Head of Marketing and Attractions at DKI Jakarta Disparekraf, stated that the weakening rupiah actually presents an ideal momentum to attract more Overseas Visitors to Jakarta.

"This should be the perfect timing especially for neighbouring countries to come visit Jakarta. When the rupiah weakens, absolutely everything becomes much cheaper for international tourists," said Lucky.

According to her, the favourable exchange rate now allows foreign tourists the chance to enjoy Jakarta for longer periods while staying within a friendly budget. Previously short-stay tour packages are now shifting towards longer duration travel itineraries.

"What used to be just one or two day tour packages for visitors, especially those coming from neighbouring countries Malaysia and Singapore, can now be extended for much longer stays at much more competitive prices," she added.

This strategy is also supported by large-scale promotion for Jakarta's annual flagship events, one of which is the 2026 Jakarta Great Sale Festival (FJGS). This event acts as a major Shopping Tourism magnet, perfectly matching the behaviour of regional tourists who enjoy hunting for promotions while also experiencing the capital's culinary offerings.

Apart from modern shopping malls, Jakarta also offers increasingly complete tourism experiences for international visitors. These range from historical tours in Kota Tua Old Town, Betawi cultural experiences, to the wide variety of legendary local street food that forms its own unique attraction.

During the FJGS 2026 press conference, Lucky explained that Malaysian tourists still make up the largest number of international arrivals to Jakarta, most commonly travelling for culinary and shopping purposes.

"We fully support FJGS 2026. Of Jakarta's top 3 foreign visitor nationalities which are Malaysia, China and Japan, Malaysian visitors especially primarily come to Jakarta specifically to eat and shop. That is why our role is to continuously publicise this event massively, both domestically and internationally, so that these travellers receive this information," Lucky stated.

To expand the international tourist market, Jakarta Disparekraf is also strengthening overseas promotion through international print media as well as targeted digital campaigns aimed at tourists across Asia.

This year, South Korea, Malaysia and Singapore have been set as the primary target markets for Jakarta's shopping Tourism Promotion. The goal is for international visitors not only to make a brief stopover, but to spend more time and money during their stay in the capital.

"We hope that more people will come to Jakarta to shop," she added.

Amidst global economic challenges, Jakarta is working to turn an adverse situation into opportunity. While the exchange rate has made overseas travel more expensive for many Indonesians, foreign tourists now see Jakarta as a destination that delivers a full, well-rounded experience at ever more attractive prices.