Hippindo: Rupiah Weakens as Tourists Flock to Indonesia
Foreign tourists are taking advantage of the weak rupiah, which makes travel and shopping cheaper.
The Indonesian Retail and Tenant Association (Hippindo) Secretary General, Haryanto Pratantara, has reported a recent surge in foreign tourists visiting Indonesia. The influx is attributed to the affordability of travel, culinary experiences, and shopping opportunities, all made possible by the weakened rupiah.
Haryanto, while opening the Indonesia Retail Summit and Expo (IRSE) event in Jakarta, emphasized that while the weakened rupiah enables Indonesia to compete with neighboring countries on various fronts, it also poses challenges. Despite the currency weakness, some Indonesians are still willing to travel abroad and indulge in extravagant shopping, often for global brands that have established operations in Indonesia.
The Hipindo event, held at the Swissotel in Pantai Indah Kapuk, Jakarta, from August 26 to 27, 2026, featured 33 seminar sessions focusing on various aspects of retail capability enhancement, including marketing, artificial intelligence, human resource development, and store design. The exhibition attracted 79 participants, sponsors, and an expected 4,000 visitors.
Haryanto highlighted that the event aimed to boost the competitiveness of Indonesian retailers through the incorporation of new technologies and innovative offerings. He emphasized that the goal is to ensure Indonesia remains a compelling destination for both domestic and international shoppers.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
