Indonesia’s cultural experiences spotlighted with award at OTM Mumbai 2026

The Ministry of Tourism has announced that Indonesia received the “Experiential & Cultural Tourism Award” at the Outbound Travel Mart (OTM) Mumbai 2026, held on Feb. 5–7, 2026, in Mumbai, India.

“Indonesia was considered capable of delivering travel experiences that allow tourists not only to visit, but to directly take part in traditions, local practices, cuisine, handicrafts, community interaction, storytelling, wellness, and even spiritual tourism across various destinations,” said Ni Made Ayu Marthini, the ministry’s deputy for marketing, in an official statement confirmed in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Made said the award was presented directly by the OTM Organizing Committee as recognition of Indonesia’s strength as a destination built on authentic, participatory cultural experiences.

The recognition reflects a global trend showing a shift in traveler preferences toward journeys that feel more meaningful, personal and immersive, moving beyond conventional mass tourism.

Indonesia was seen as succeeding in positioning itself as a “living destination” grounded in experience and culture—offering depth and direct engagement with local life.

She said the award also validated Indonesia’s marketing strategy, which places cultural experience at the core of its offer to the Indian market. Indonesia, she added, is not merely a place to tick off, but a space where visitors can feel the dynamics of culture, tradition and community life firsthand.

Dedi Ahmad Kurnia, the ministry’s assistant deputy for overseas marketing I, added that at OTM Mumbai 2026 the ministry facilitated the participation of 30 Indonesian co-exhibitors, or sellers.

That participation generated potential transactions of US$ 6,989,879, equal to Rp117,429,967,200 using an exchange-rate assumption of Rp16,800 per US dollar. The potential number of tourists recorded also reached 22,781.

On the sidelines of OTM Mumbai 2026, the ministry also held strategic meetings with a number of Indian travel-industry partners, including MakeMyTrip, TBO (Travel Boutique Online), Thomas Cook, SOTC Travel Limited, the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), as well as organizing committees from SATTE, OTM and ITB India.

Meetings were also conducted with several destination management companies (DMCs) from tier-2 and tier-3 Indian cities, which are seen as having strong growth potential for outbound travel to Indonesia.

According to Dedi, the potential transaction value and strengthened industry networks recorded during OTM Mumbai 2026 point to robust interest from the Indian market in Indonesian tourism products.

“We are optimistic that the potential transactions recorded can be converted into actual arrivals of Indian tourists to Indonesia in the near term,” he said.

India is one of Indonesia’s priority markets, posting steady growth. In 2025, Indonesia recorded 734,490 visits by Indian tourists, an increase of around 3.4 percent from 710,207 visits in 2024.

The positive trajectory reinforces the view that India offers long-term prospects as a strategic source of international visitors.

Through its participation at OTM Mumbai 2026, the ministry reaffirmed its commitment to expanding penetration in the Indian market through sustained promotional initiatives, including trade fairs, sales missions, familiarization trips and strategic partnerships with Indian tourism industry players.

Those efforts are aimed at increasing international arrivals while supporting sustainable, tourism-based economic growth.

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