Indonesia and South Korea are preparing more attractive tourism collaborations.

Tourism relations between Indonesia and South Korea are poised to enter a new phase. Amid growing mutual interest in cross-visits between travellers of both nations, authorities are strengthening collaboration that does not only focus on destination promotion, but also delivers more diverse tourism experiences ranging from culinary travel to special interest tours.

This development comes as welcome news for Indonesian travellers who are increasingly keen to explore South Korea, as well as for South Korean tourists who have made Indonesia one of their favourite destinations in Southeast Asia.

This commitment was discussed during a bilateral meeting between Indonesian Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana and South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Chae Hwi Young, held on the sidelines of the 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting (TMM13) which took place in Macau SAR, China on 27 June 2026.

Indonesia and South Korea Strengthen Tourism Cooperation

During the meeting, both countries explored various cooperation opportunities to boost visitor numbers while expanding destination promotion efforts. One key priority is deepening collaboration with the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO), travel industry stakeholders, as well as development of gastronomy tourism which is currently a global trend.

Gastronomy tourism is considered to hold enormous potential, as it combines the experience of enjoying local cuisine with the cultural heritage and traditions of a destination. This collaboration is expected to create more attractive travel packages for both Indonesian and South Korean tourists.

"With aligned visions under the APEC and UN Tourism frameworks, Indonesia and the Republic of Korea have significant opportunity to elevate our tourism cooperation to an advanced level and deliver tangible benefits for both nations," stated Widiyanti.

She expressed hope that the established communication with the South Korean government will open up further collaboration opportunities, not only within the tourism sector but also across other strategic fields.

Indonesian Travellers May Find It Easier To Holiday In South Korea

Widiyanti also confirmed that South Korea is one of Indonesia's most important international tourist source markets. Conversely, demand for travel to South Korea among the Indonesian public also continues to show a positive upward trend.

For this reason, Indonesian authorities have welcomed South Korea's policy introducing temporary visa exemption for group travellers from Indonesia, which came into effect on 28 May 2026. This policy is expected to drive growth in tourist travel volumes while also strengthening people-to-people ties between the two countries.

Such travel conveniences are among the top factors considered by tourists when selecting an overseas destination, alongside the variety of tourist attractions available and ease of flight access.

Indonesia Pushes For More Innovative Asia-Pacific Tourism

At the 13th APEC Tourism Ministerial Meeting forum, Indonesia also reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the Asia-Pacific region's tourism sector through digital technology adoption, local community empowerment, support for micro, small and medium enterprises, and cross-border collaboration.

Indonesia has also voiced support for implementation of the APEC Tourism Strategic Plan 2025–2029, the Putrajaya Vision 2040, as well as APEC study findings on improving the effectiveness of travel facilitation across the Asia-Pacific region.

This regional cooperation is expected to build an increasingly inclusive, sustainable tourism ecosystem that delivers more comfortable travel experiences for international visitors.

For travel enthusiasts, the deepening ties between Indonesia and South Korea open up opportunities for easier, more culturally rich, and ever more exciting travel experiences in the coming years.