Indonesia aims to attract 1.1 million visitors during 42nd ASEAN Summit
The 42nd ASEAN Summit, slated to take place in mid-May in Indonesia’s Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara province this year, is expected to help the country attract 1.1 million international visitors to the tourism site, home to the Komodo Dragon National Park.
Some tourists tried to climb a hill on Padar Island, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara Province, which is part the Komodo National Park. (Photo: antaranews.com)
Jakarta (VNA)𝕴 – The 42nd ASEAN Summit, slated to takeplace in mid-May in Indonesia’s Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggaraprovince this year, is expected to help the country attract 1.1 millioninternational visitors to the tourism site, home to the Komodo Dragon National Park.
Indonesia’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister SandiagaUno said this goal is in line with the development of infrastructure in LabuanBajo, including the Bajo-Golo Mori route that was just inaugurated on March 14. However, Sandiaga said that Labuan Bajo needs more newdestinations to attract international visitors through the upcoming 42nd ASEANSummit because Indonesia allows only 200,000 international visitors to visitKomodo Dragon National Park each year to maintain the environmentalsustainability of the region. Sandiaga also said he has received a special request fromPresident Joko Widodo to increase tourism promotion for Labuan Bajo and harnessthe momentum from hosting the ASEAN Summit. The promotion activities will be conducted through the Southeast AsiaTravel Expo which will take place this weekend in Kuala Lumpur. Labuan Bajo will be added to the Ministry of Tourism andCreative Economy’s digital marketing strategy with specific targets and segmentsin attracting visitors./.
ASEAN has sufficient resources to become a centre of world economic growth with a GDP reaching USD 3.36 trillion in 2021 and a population of 650 million people, Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said on March 15.
The closure of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Silvergate Bank, and Signature Bank in the United States has no direct impact on Indonesia’s banking sector, Governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) Perry Warjiyo said on March 16.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on March 16 said that Singapore and Indonesia are ready to cooperate in new areas, as the two countries signed agreements on energy, sustainability, health, and human capital development.
Indonesia Investment Authority (INA) and US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) have taken a significant step towards promoting economic development in Indonesia by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Some tourists tried to climb a hill on Padar Island, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara Province, which is part the Komodo National Park. (Photo: antaranews.com) 
