Indonesia logged 8.98 million foreign arrivals in the first seven months of 2026, with Malaysians the largest group at 1.59 million, ahead of Australians and Chinese.
Cover image: Immigration arrival hall at Bali Ngurah Rai Airport — photo by Pinterpandai.com, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Indonesia logged 8,978,626 foreign visitor arrivals in the first seven months of 2026, with Malaysians the largest origin market at 1,590,486, ahead of Australians, Chinese and Singaporeans, according to the nationality table for the 7/2026 period. The total extends the rebound from 12.66 million in January-November 2024 and 15,386,646 for full-year 2025.
The ranking for the seven-month period is Malaysia 1,590,486, Australia 1,053,004, China 891,439, Singapore 856,999 and Timor-Leste 548,232. Malaysia led in both 2024 (2,278,281) and 2025 (2,639,749), underscoring its position as Indonesia's most consistent source market via air, ferry and land links to Sumatra and Batam.
How many foreign tourists visited Indonesia to July 2026?
The 8.98 million figure to July covers foreign visitor arrivals nationally, not just Bali. For context, Indonesia recorded 15.38 million in full-year 2025 and 12.66 million between January and November 2024. The 7/2026 pace suggests a full year above the 2025 level if the August to December season holds.
Entry points drive the pattern. Bali Ngurah Rai, Batam and Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta are the main gateways. Batam's ferry links to Singapore and Johor Bahru bring large Malaysian and Singaporean numbers, while Bali captures Australian and Chinese leisure traffic. Land borders with Timor-Leste and Malaysia also contribute to the Timor-Leste figure in the top five.
For Bali-specific volume, see Bali tourist arrivals 9.83 million January-July 2026. Nationally, the July peak coincides with school holidays in Malaysia and Australia, which supports short-haul travel to Indonesia.
Which nationalities visit Indonesia most?
The seven-month table for 2026 shows a clear order:
- Malaysia 1,590,486 — short distances, frequent ferries and flights to Sumatra, Batam and Jakarta.
- Australia 1,053,004 — Bali-centric, strong July demand.
- China 891,439 — Bali and Bintan rebound after visa and flight restoration.
- Singapore 856,999 — Batam and Bintan weekend traffic plus Bali.
- Timor-Leste 548,232 — cross-border movement and labour links.
Malaysia's lead is not new. It topped 2024 with 2.27 million and 2025 with 2.63 million, per the same table. The consistency reflects geography: northern Sumatra and Batam are closer to Peninsular Malaysia than Jakarta is to Bali, and ferry services run several times daily.
For regional comparison, Thailand reported 19.76 million arrivals to mid-August 2026 with India third. Indonesia trails Thailand in absolute foreign arrivals but leads on intra-ASEAN short-haul connectivity, especially with Malaysia.
What does this mean for Bali and Batam?
Bali remains the largest provincial driver. The island's hotel occupancy topped Indonesia at 67.29% in July, and the province's airport is the busiest international gateway. Batam, by contrast, wins on volume of Singaporean and Malaysian day trips and short stays, helped by visa-free ferry access.
The marketing push at ITB India 2026 in Mumbai, targeting 6,600 potential tourists, aims to lift Indian numbers that have not yet entered the top five nationally. Indian arrivals concentrate in Bali and Bintan and are growing, but from a lower base than Malaysia or Australia. If the ITB deals convert for the October to March peak, India's share could rise in the next table.
Policy signals matter. Indonesia kept the Visa on Arrival/e-VOA (IDR 500,000 for 30 days, extendable) for most ASEAN and long-haul markets, which supports short-notice travel from Malaysia and Singapore. No change to visa-free ASEAN short stays was announced in the July data release.
| Market (7/2026) | Arrivals |
|---|---|
| Malaysia | 1,590,486 |
| Australia | 1,053,004 |
| China | 891,439 |
| Singapore | 856,999 |
| Timor-Leste | 548,232 |
| Total foreign arrivals 7/2026 | 8,978,626 |
Frequently asked questions
How many foreign tourists visited Indonesia to July 2026?
Indonesia recorded 8,978,626 foreign visitor arrivals in the first seven months of 2026 (7/2026 column). Full-year 2025 was 15,386,646 and January-November 2024 was 12.66 million, showing a continued climb toward pre-pandemic scale.
Which nationality visited Indonesia most in July 2026?
Malaysians were the largest group with 1,590,486 arrivals in the seven-month period, ahead of Australians at 1,053,004, Chinese at 891,439, Singaporeans at 856,999 and Timor-Leste at 548,232. Malaysia also led in 2024 and 2025.
Where do most foreign tourists enter Indonesia?
Bali Ngurah Rai, Batam (ferry from Singapore/Malaysia) and Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta are the top gateways. Malaysians often use land and ferry links to Sumatra and Batam, while Australians and Chinese fly heavily into Bali.
How does this compare to Bali and Thailand arrivals?
Bali alone logged 9.83 million tourist arrivals January-July 2026 across air, sea and land, while Thailand reported 19.76 million to mid-August with India third. Indonesia's 8.98 million to July is national foreign arrivals, with Bali the dominant provincial driver.
