The Indonesia Stock Exchange may have suffered a historic wipe out in end January, but industry players remain optimistic that outbound travel market will stay buoyant in 2026.
“I hope our stock market will bounce back so there’s no need to worry about investment. Investors can purchase travel products,” said Pauline Suharno, chair of the Indonesian Travel Agent Association (ASTINDO), during the opening ceremony of the 23rd ASTINDO Travel Fair, which took place on 5-8 February 2026.
Held over four days at ICE BSD City in Tangerang, on the outskirts of Jakarta, the fair attracted 57,563 visitors and generated total transactions of IDR 50.10 billion (US$2.98 million). The event brought together 31 travel agencies, 21 airlines, eight national tourism organisations and 14 travel-related product and service providers, under the theme Discover the World, One Gate at a Time.
Suharno said demand for travel remains resilient, driven largely by outbound tourism. “Visitors were very enthusiastic. Hot markets for outbound travel continue to be China, Japan, Taiwan and cruise holidays,” she told Travel Weekly Asia.
China, Japan, Taiwan and cruise holidays are top sellers at 23rd ASTINDO Travel Fair.
China, Japan lead outbound demand
Travel agents on the ground echoed this trend. Fabian Soelaeman, assistant vice president at Bayu Buana Travel Services, said China and Japan dominated bookings during the fair, with Chongqing emerging as the top-selling destination during the fair.
“Destinations that are the most viral on Instagram and social media are the most popular,” he said.
Japan continues to be a year-round favourite for Indonesian travellers, with strong demand for the major cities. “Most Indonesians still visit Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto on the island of Honshu,” Soelaeman said. “They have not really ventured into more unusual or off-the-beaten-path destinations yet.”
South Africa makes its debut
This year’s ASTINDO Travel Fair also welcomed a new participant: South African Tourism, marking the destination’s first appearance at the event.
“South Africa invites more Indonesians to discover our country,” said Patricia de Lille, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism. “We offer Muslim-friendly travel experiences, including halal-certified restaurants, prayer facilities and Muslim-friendly hotels.”
While interest in South Africa is growing, some agents believe it will take time for Indonesian travellers to warm up to the destination.
“Most travellers still look for major cities or countries such as the US, Europe, Japan or China,” said Eni, a sales executive at Smailing Tour and Travel. “Those who have already travelled extensively may start looking for more unique destinations like Vietnam or South Africa.”
Others, however, are already seeing early traction. Bayu Buana, for example, is organising a 20- to 25-person group tour to South Africa during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in March.