DESMA Center and the Ministry of Tourism Hold a Coordination Meeting for International Tourism Investment Forum 2026
Author: Siti Nur Hasbiyana, Programme Associate and Outreach
The International Tourism Investment Forum (ITIF) is a tourism investment forum initiated by the Deputy for Industry and Investment of the Ministry of Tourism (Kemenpar) of the Republic of Indonesia. Building on the success of the previous editions—ITIF 2023 and ITIF 2024—ITIF 2026 will return with a primary focus on wellness tourism. The selection of wellness tourism as the main theme of ITIF 2026 aligns with the Ministry of Tourism’s flagship programs, which promote marine tourism, gastro tourism, and wellness tourism.
In preparation for ITIF 2026, the Ministry of Tourism and DESMA Center, as the knowledge partner, held a coordination meeting for ITIF 2026. The meeting took place in Jakarta on November 28, 2025, and focused on refining the format and overall concept of the forum. Dicky Mardyan, Co-Founder and Director of DESMA Center, provided strategic input on the forum’s concept and implementation.
The organization of ITIF 2026 is expected to serve as a catalyst for increasing investment in Indonesia’s health and wellness tourism sector. Increased investment in health and wellness tourism is anticipated to accelerate Indonesia’s position as a high-quality, sustainable, and globally competitive health and wellness tourism destination.
As part of its commitment to accountability, the forum is designed to produce concrete and actionable outcomes, including a curated pipeline of investment opportunities; business matching sessions and one-on-one meetings between project owners, local governments, business actors, and potential investors; cooperation commitments through relevant collaboration schemes; comprehensive investment information packages; and post-event follow-up action plans.
The implementation of ITIF 2026 is not merely an annual agenda, but a measured step to expand investment that drives innovation, connects opportunities, fosters commitments and cross-stakeholder collaboration, enhances service quality, and supports the transformation of tourism destinations. With a clear direction toward developing a high-quality and sustainable tourism ecosystem, Indonesia is well-positioned to strengthen its standing as a global health and wellness tourism destination.
