The world is entering a period where uncertainty is no longer an exception, it is the operating system.
We see tensions rising simultaneously in the Persian Gulf, the Arctic region surrounding Greenland, and parts of South America. Great powers are maneuvering. Sanctions, military signaling, and geopolitical rivalry are reshaping not only politics, but how people move, trade, and live.
In moments like this, nations are often judged by their military strength or economic size. But history shows that in times of fragmentation, what matters just as much is who provides stability.
Indonesia has a quiet but profound opportunity.
For decades, tourism has been seen as a “soft sector”—discretionary, cyclical, and secondary to industry or finance. That perception is outdated. In today’s world, tourism is no longer merely about leisure. It has become a strategic form of human mobility, and human mobility is now a pillar of economic resilience.
When conflict zones expand and uncertainty rises, people do not stop moving, they move more carefully. Families seek safety. Businesses seek neutral ground. Investors seek predictability. Professionals seek livable places where work, health, education, and culture can coexist.
Indonesia offers all of this.
We are not a country at war. We are not locked into geopolitical blocs. We are not a sanctions battlefield. We are a pluralistic society with scale, stability, and hospitality embedded in our culture. In an increasingly polarized world, Indonesia stands as a neutral, welcoming anchor.
This is why Indonesian tourism can become the major driving force for regional stability and growth.
Tourism brings immediate economic impact, but more importantly, it creates demand certainty. It sustains airlines, ports, food supply chains, creative industries, MSMEs, and local employment. At a time when global supply chains are under stress, tourism acts as a shock absorber—keeping money circulating domestically and regionally.
More than that, tourism now supports diplomacy and business continuity. As global executives, humanitarian organizations, and regional decision-makers seek safe meeting grounds, Indonesia can position itself as the natural convening space of Asia-Pacific. Our destinations are not just places to relax—they are places to negotiate, collaborate, heal, and rebuild trust.
If we frame tourism correctly, it becomes a national resilience sector.
This means encouraging longer stays, integrating tourism with healthcare and education, strengthening visa frameworks, and ensuring that our destinations remain open, predictable, and secure even when others close their doors.
Baca Juga: Indonesia 2026: Liquidity, Confidence, and the Tourism Dividend
Indonesia does not need to compete by being louder or more aggressive. Our strength lies in being reliable when the world feels unreliable.
In a fractured global landscape, tourism gives Indonesia the ability to lead without confrontation—by hosting humanity when it needs refuge, dialogue, and continuity.
That is not only good economics.
It is responsible leadership.
In an era of geopolitical fragmentation, Indonesian tourism evolves from leisure activity into a strategic stabilizer—anchoring human mobility, regional demand, and global confidence in Southeast Asia.
