Indonesia’s tourism sector continues to show recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic, driven in part by the adoption of modern digital technologies that enhance efficiency and the overall tourist experience. The government has been actively promoting this adoption, although only 40 percent of tourism operators in Indonesia have integrated these digital solutions thus far.
Muhammad Ajie Santika, Chief Marketing Officer and Co-founder of Feedloop AI, highlighted that 40 percent of these tourism operators have already demonstrated that modern digital technology, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), has significantly contributed to the post-pandemic recovery of the tourism industry, which had been severely impacted by the crisis.
“The government is continuously encouraging this, with the hope that by 2025, 60 percent of tourism operators will have adopted digital technology,” said Muhammad Ajie Santika during the second session of the Indonesia Tourism Outlook (ITO) 2025, organized by the Forum of Tourism and Creative Economy Journalists (Forwarparekraf) at the Aston Kemayoran Hotel, Jakarta, on Thursday, October 10, 2024.
Despite the numerous advantages of AI technology and the government’s push for its adoption, Ajie pointed out that there are no existing regulations governing the use of AI in Indonesia, as they are still being discussed by the government and relevant stakeholders.
“Once these regulations are in place, I am confident that our tourism sector will develop at a faster pace. However, there are challenges in Indonesia, such as technological integration gaps and cultural mismatches in AI services,” Ajie concluded.
Meanwhile, Ferry Kusnowo, Director of Strategy and Technology Development at Injourney Airport, represented by Wahyu Chayadi, Technology and Digitalization Group Head of PT Angkasa Pura Indonesia, explained that as airport operators, they have already begun to adopt AI to optimize services and enhance the experience for both passengers and business operators at the airports.
“Adopting digital technology is essential for us, as all airport operations must be integrated to ensure smooth connectivity between flights; otherwise, there would be chaos,” Wahyu remarked.
Wahyu added that, following the merger of Angkasa Pura I and Angkasa Pura II into Angkasa Pura Indonesia, system integration through technology, including AI, has become a necessity to meet the growing demand for efficiency and speed from air travel service users.
“AI not only makes things easier for staff and the airport, but also for passengers. We use CCTV Analytics to help staff monitor congestion at various points, including detecting potential security threats by identifying suspicious movements,” Wahyu said.
Wahyu also shared that Soekarno-Hatta Airport is currently testing an AI-powered autogate system in Terminal 3. This AI system will streamline the check-in process for travelers, eliminating the need to present physical identification cards or boarding passes, and avoiding face-to-face interactions during check-in.
“Travelers simply need to present their face to the machine, and the data will be matched, allowing the gate to open. With this technology, we not only expedite the process but also reduce the use of paper and printed documents, achieving efficiency for both passengers and the company,” Wahyu explained.
In addition to using CCTV Analytics and biometric technology, Wahyu noted that Angkasa Pura is currently developing the ‘Traveling: Injourney Airport’ application. Powered by AI, this application will assist tourists by providing recommendations for travel and accurate information related to flights and airports.
“When discussing advanced biometrics, travelers should be aware that South Korea is one of the most sophisticated countries in terms of utilizing AI. South Korea’s biometric technology is among the best in the world, from CCTV to gates. Given that plastic surgery is common in Korea, and some individuals undergo multiple surgeries, advanced technology is required to accurately identify the same person despite physical changes,” Wahyu remarked.
Wahyu further mentioned that China also possesses highly advanced technology in this area. Consequently, Indonesia continues to learn from and collaborate with leading global technology providers to adopt these innovations in support of its national tourism development.
