YOGYAKARTA, 26 October 2026 — Sharia Economic Community (MES) Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY) held an audience with the DIY Regional Secretary, Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti, S.T., M.T., in the DIY Regional Secretary Meeting Room, Monday (26/10). This hearing discussed strengthening the Muslim-friendly tourism ecosystem as part of sharia economic development, improving the quality of destination services, and strengthening tourism competitiveness Yogyakarta.
This activity is also carried out in order to make Jogja Halal Fest (JHF) #3 a success which will take place on 4–6 December 2026.
The meeting became a space for dialogue to discuss the results of the 2026 Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI), the challenges of developing Muslim-friendly tourism in DIY, as well as opportunities for collaboration between local governments, business actors, academics and other stakeholders.
General Chair MES DIY, Prof. Dr. H. Edy Suandi Hamid, M.Ec., said that the development of Muslim-friendly tourism needs to be placed within a broader regional economic development framework.
"In determining policy direction, we need to look at macroeconomic interests. The development of Muslim-friendly tourism should not only be oriented towards increasing rankings, but must also be able to make a real contribution to regional economic growth, expand business opportunities and improve community welfare," said Edy in the audience.
Discuss IMTI Results and Directions for DIY Tourism Development
In his presentation, MES DIY said that DIY was ranked 10th out of 15 provinces included in the 2026 IMTI assessment. Based on the four pillars of the assessment, DIY was ranked 4th for Access, 8th for Communication, 13th for Environment, and 8th for Services.
The Environment pillar is one of the main concerns because it experienced a decline in ranking compared to the previous year. This condition shows the need to strengthen the tourism supporting environment, including regional policies, adequate facilities, sustainability and cross-sector coordination.
MES DIY considers that the preparation of a Muslim-friendly tourism roadmap is necessary to provide measurable development direction while clarifying the division of roles of regional apparatus organizations (OPD) and related stakeholders.
DIY Regional Secretary Emphasizes the Importance of an Inclusive Approach
DIY Regional Secretary, Ni Made Dwipanti Indrayanti, S.T., M.T., emphasized the importance of building a proper understanding of Muslim-friendly tourism so that it is not perceived as an exclusive concept.
In the discussion, the DIY Regional Secretary described tourists' needs in simple terms, starting from comfortable gathering places to proper prayer room facilities. The availability of these facilities is part of the quality of destination services that can increase visitor comfort.
"When we want to gather, of course we look for a comfortable place, including ensuring that the prayer room is also suitable. Muslim-friendly tourism does not mean that tourist attractions can only be visited by Muslims. This is about how destinations are able to accommodate tourists' needs well," was the substance of the DIY Regional Secretary's response in the audience.
The DIY Regional Secretary also highlighted that discussions about halal are not limited to food, but have a wider scope. Therefore, education, literacy and conveying appropriate information to the public are important so that Muslim-friendly tourism can be understood as an inclusive approach to improving the quality of services.
Apart from the service aspect, DIY tourism development needs to remain rooted in local identity and cultural richness. The philosophy of Hamemayu Hayuning Bawana, which emphasizes the importance of maintaining harmony and preserving life, can be the basis for building tourism that is sustainable and in harmony with the privileges of Yogyakarta.
Widosari and Kalasan Fried Chicken Halal Area Become Good Practices
During the hearing, MES DIY also conveyed recognition of the Widosari Tourism Village and the Kalasan Fried Chicken Halal Area Commitment (KKH) involving 43 MSMEs. These two initiatives are examples of practices for developing a Muslim-friendly tourism and business ecosystem in DIY. It is hoped that these good practices can become a reference for the development of other destinations and business areas.
Encourage Follow-up and Cross-Sector Collaboration
As a follow-up to the hearing, MES DIY proposed a number of strategic steps, including preparing a road map or action plan for DIY Muslim-friendly tourism, mapping initial conditions based on the ACES (Access, Communication, Environment and Services) pillars, as well as preparing a DIY Muslim Visitor Guide. MES DIY will coordinate with relevant regional apparatus, especially elements in the field of economy and tourism.
Through this hearing, MES DIY hopes to build stronger synergy between the regional government and all stakeholders in developing Muslim-friendly tourism that is inclusive, rooted in local culture, and makes a real contribution to the economic growth and welfare of the people of DIY.