Green tourism as the foundation for the future of Indonesia’s MSMEs

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Indonesian Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana and ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Simrin Singh. 12/2025

JAKARTA, Indonesia (Joint Press Release) - To accelerate the transition toward green and sustainable tourism, the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO), convened the Policy Forum on Green Tourism MSMEs in Jakarta, on Friday, 5 December 2025.

Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, who presided over the forum, emphasized that the shift toward green and sustainable tourism is not merely a trend but a fundamental requirement. She described it as a cornerstone for the future of Indonesia's tourism sector, particularly its micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

"MSMEs are the backbone of the national economy, contributing significantly to job creation, local livelihoods, and cultural preservation," said Minister Widiyanti. She noted that Indonesia's tourism sector is undergoing a major transformation, moving away from attraction-based promotion toward a value-driven approach, with sustainability at its core.

This transition aligns with the 2025-2029 National Mid-Term Development Plan (RPJM), which underscores the importance of effective destination management, inclusive supply chains, the adoption of Blue, Green and Circular Economy (BGCE) principles, green infrastructure development, strengthened workforce competencies and environmentally responsible financing mechanisms.

Through the green transition, MSMEs not only grow sustainably but also deliver tangible benefits for communities, from creating decent jobs to protecting natural heritage, while strengthening Indonesia's position as a leader in responsible tourism.

Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, Minister of Tourism

The Minister stressed that green practices can begin with MSMEs. She urged them to adopt eco-friendly business models that reduce carbon footprints, protect biodiversity, and preserve local traditions and wisdom.

"Through the green transition, MSMEs not only grow sustainably but also deliver tangible benefits for communities, from creating decent jobs to protecting natural heritage, while strengthening Indonesia's position as a leader in responsible tourism," she added.

ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste, Simrin Singh, stated that the ILO and other UN agencies are proud to support the Indonesian Government in advancing green tourism through innovation and cross-sector partnerships. She emphasized that the collaboration goes beyond implementing eco-friendly practices; it also aims to enhance the resilience, inclusiveness and competitiveness of Indonesia's tourism sector.

"Green tourism is a powerful driver of sustainable development and decent job creation across the tourism ecosystem. Its impact extends beyond the sector, contributing to biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage preservation and global climate mitigation efforts," Simrin said.

The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and the ILO awarded certification to 19 trainers promoting green tourism for MSMEs in Indonesia. 12/2025

Since 2023, the Ministry and the ILO have partnered under the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) programme, a global UN initiative. The collaboration focuses on strengthening MSMEs' capacity to adopt sustainable and environmentally responsible business practices.

Through this initiative, the partners have organized a Green Jobs Forum to discuss tourism development in biodiversity-rich areas and carried out intensive capacity-building through Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes and direct training for MSMEs.

Green tourism is a powerful driver of sustainable development and decent job creation across the tourism ecosystem. Its impact extends beyond the sector, contributing to biodiversity conservation, cultural heritage preservation and global climate mitigation efforts.

Simrin Singh, ILO Country Director for Indonesia and Timor-Leste

To date, the programme has produced 19 certified trainers and developed a comprehensive training module covering entrepreneurship, financial literacy and green tourism. In its initial phase, four pilot projects were implemented across Central Java, the Special Region of Yogyakarta, North Sumatra and West Nusa Tenggara, directly benefiting 172 tourism MSMEs.

Building on strong collaboration at the national, provincial, and local levels, these successful pilot projects have since been expanded nationwide. The programme has reached 30 cities and regencies across regions, including Yogyakarta, Central Java, West Java, North Sulawesi, West Papua, Riau, Lampung, North Maluku, West Nusa Tenggara, South Kalimantan and Bangka Belitung, impacting more than 900 tourism MSMEs across Indonesia.

The Forum is being live-streamed on ILO TV Indonesia.

For further information, please contact:
Dina Novita Sari
ILO's Programme Officer
Email: [email protected]

Gita Lingga
ILO Senior Communication and Information Management Assistant
Email: [email protected]