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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana officially inaugurated the Wonderful Indonesia Wellness 2025 event at Taman Balekambang, Solo, Central Java, on Saturday, November 1, 2025. The event is scheduled to run for a full month, concluding on November 30.Minister Widiyanti stated that, according to the Global Wellness Institute 2023 report, Indonesia ranks first in the world in the overall wellness economics category, valued at $56.4 billion, or approximately Rp939 trillion, and is the third fastest-growing country in the Asia Pacific region.She highlighted that the current global tourism trend favors trips that are not only enjoyable but also healthy and restorative, presenting a significant opportunity for Indonesia. "Tourists now seek vacations for healing, aiming to recharge their energy and return home in a healthier and happier condition," Widiyanti told reporters after the opening ceremony on Saturday night.7 Categories of Wellness TourismThe Minister explained that the Ministry of Tourism has established seven main categories of wellness tourism, or fitness tourism. These categories range from spa tourism and traditional and complementary therapies, such as herbal medicine, to healthy culinary experiences, fitness and lifestyle, and arts and culture activities that promote mental balance."Solo is very suited for fitness tourism due to its rich culture and culinary scene. Solo has prepared a variety of events, including learning traditional Javanese music and dancing, and healthy food preparation. We also aim to target quality tourists who stay longer and have higher spending," she noted.During the launch, the ministry also released the book, Wellness Journey Across the Java Wonders. This resource will serve as a guide for tourism industry players, such as online travel agents and tour operators, to develop fitness tourism packages across the Solo, Yogyakarta, and Central Java regions.Tourism Ministry's Flagship ProgramVincencius Jemadu, Deputy for Event Organizer Development at the Tourism Ministry, added that Wonderful Indonesia Wellness has been designated a national flagship program. It targets the sale of 5,000 tour packages during its one-month implementation."This program is very special because it falls under the category of special interest tourism. Beyond package sales, we also aim for a direct impact on MSMEs, projecting transactions to reach Rp8.5–9 billion. Ticket sales for the opening and closing events are targeted to bring in Rp4.5–5 billion. Tonight alone, we already had 1,000 attendees," Jemadu stated.Solo Mayor Respati Aedi expressed appreciation and confirmed the city’s full readiness as the host."We are grateful for the trust placed in Solo to host this wellness tourism event. With our two main cultural pillars, the Kraton Kasunanan Surakarta Hadiningrat and Pura Mangkunegaran, we possess a wealth of cultural experiences ready to be integrated with the fitness tourism concept," he remarked.Respati concluded by asserting that Solo's entire tourism ecosystem, from infrastructure and tourism entrepreneurs to therapists and MSMEs, is fully prepared to support the program's success.Editor’s Choice: The Art of Shopping in Bali: Meet the Hidden Treasures of Cultural MarketsClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
