Indonesia received 12.01 million foreign tourist arrivals from January to September 2026, registering a 5.01% increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to Statistics Indonesia (BPS). This marks the highest number of foreign visitors since 2020 when international travel disruptions began due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sharp Increase in Chinese Tourist Visits Amid Monthly Drops
Chinese tourist arrivals surged by 35.59% year-on-year in September 2026, accounting for 10.76% of all foreign visits with 153,570 arrivals. Despite this annual growth, visits from China declined by 5.53% month-on-month from August to September 2026.
Monthly and Yearly Flow of Foreign Visitors in September 2026
September 2026 logged 1,427,114 foreign tourist visits, marking a 10.79% drop from August but a 2.31%
rise over September 2025, noted Ateng Hartono, BPS Deputy for Distribution and Services Statistics. Malaysia led all countries with 16.76% of visits, roughly 239,000 tourists, followed by Australia at 12.43% (177,350 visitors), China at 10.76%, and Singapore at roughly 9.42%. Malaysian tourist numbers declined 19.24% month-to-month, while Australian arrivals increased 3.15% in the same period.
Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport Dominates as Entry Point
Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport was the primary gateway for foreign tourists in September 2026. Other significant entry points included Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Hang Nadim Airport in Batam, and Kualanamu Airport in Deli Serdang. Out of total September arrivals, 1,282,308 entered
through these main airports, while 144,806 came via border entry points.
Tourist Purpose and Spending Patterns in Q3 2026
Approximately 79% of foreign visitors came to Indonesia for vacation in the third quarter of 2026. Average spending per tourist visit rose to $1,374.48, up from $1,285 in Q2 2026 and $1,297.31 in Q3 2025, according to BPS. Accommodation was the largest expenditure category with an average of $497.12 spent per visit, followed by food and beverages at $271.33, and goods and souvenirs averaging $148.93.
According to Ateng Hartono, “The achievement of foreign tourist visits from January to September 2026 is the highest since 2020.” He added, “This figure
has increased compared to the average spending in the previous quarter.” The growing expenditure reflects enhanced engagement with Indonesia’s hospitality and trade sectors.
