Erick Thohir seeks to expand Indonesia's sport tourism potential

Indonesian Minister of Youth and Sports Erick Thohir has emphasized the need to maximize the country's sport tourism potential. He noted that while the global sport tourism market is estimated at Rp9,500 trillion, Indonesia currently captures only about 0.5 percent, or approximately Rp39.5 trillion.

Speaking at the launch of the book ‘MotoGP Mandalika 2025: Acceleration of Economy, Image, and Tourism’ in Jakarta, Thohir highlighted the significant economic impact of major events. He cited last year's MotoGP at the Mandalika Circuit, which contributed an estimated Rp5 trillion to the economy.

Thohir argued that investment in sports serves as both a tool for national character building and a means of strengthening national branding. He referenced President Soekarno’s historical investments in sports infrastructure, such as the Gelora Bung Karno complex, noting that these assets continue to provide economic and social value decades later.