Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia's Ministry of Tourism hosted the International Islamic Expo (IIE) 2026 from June 26 to 28, showcasing the country as a Muslim-friendly destination while strengthening international cooperation to develop a competitive and sustainable global halal ecosystem.
The international forum brought together tourism industry professionals, umrah and hajj travel agents, associations, investors, buyers, and foreign government representatives.
Masruroh, senior advisor for digital transformation and tourism innovation at the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism, underscored the IIE 2026 as an event built on evident growth in Muslim tourists globally, which encourages countries to seize emerging opportunities by providing quality services, offering authentic tourism experiences, and creating an inclusive environment for all.
She expressed confidence that Indonesia holds vast potential to emerge as a key player in halal tourism by leveraging its cultural wealth, natural beauty, gastronomic strengths, and hospitality.
Indonesia has demonstrated a strong commitment to quality tourism, she added, as evidenced by it being ranked as the world’s second-best Muslim-friendly tourism destination in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2026.
This achievement is the result of cooperation involving the government, industrial actors, public members, and international partners in improving the quality and competitiveness of Indonesia’s tourism ecosystem, Masruroh remarked.
Highlighting the expo’s economic impact, Masruroh said the IIE 2026 was expected to expand business networks and generate tangible benefits for sectors including hotels, restaurants, transportation, creative industries, and micro, small, and medium enterprises./.
