Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism is making significant strides in the health and wellness tourism sector by hosting the successful 2nd Indonesia Health Tourism Exchange Forum (IHTEF) in Jakarta. This event underscores Indonesia’s ambition to become a global leader in wellness tourism.
What is the IHTEF?
The IHTEF is a strategic initiative by the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MoTCE) to enhance the nation’s health and wellness tourism offerings. The forum included a B2B meeting segment that connected 20 local wellness providers with 40 travel companies, fostering partnerships to drive industry growth.
Unique Wellness Experiences
Participants were introduced to a variety of wellness products and experiences, many featuring unique cultural elements. Highlights included the healing dance by Sanggar Tari Kinanti Sekar, aromatic journeys by Rumah Atsiri, and traditional Balinese wisdom from the Bali Medical Tourism Association.
Indonesia’s Wellness Economy
According to the Global Wellness Institute, Indonesia’s wellness economy grew from $35 billion in 2017 to $36.4 billion in 2020. Despite this growth, Indonesia ranks 19th globally and seventh in the Asia-Pacific region, indicating significant potential for further development.
Future Plans
Itok Parikesit, MoTCE’s director of special interest tourism, highlighted the need for a cohesive strategy to expand Indonesia’s wellness tourism market. The ministry plans to leverage Indonesia’s rich cultural and natural assets to create a wellness travel trend that attracts international tourists.
By enhancing collaboration between local wellness providers and travel companies, MoTCE aims to significantly boost Indonesia’s presence in the global wellness tourism industry.
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