West Java has kept first place in the Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI) 2026, with Central Java climbing to second, CrescentRating said on October 30.
The index ranks 15 Indonesian provinces on how well they serve Muslim travellers, using 62 datasets. Indonesia shared second place with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2026, with a record score of 79.
CrescentRating, a Singapore-based halal travel research firm, compiled the fifth edition with Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism, Bank Indonesia and the Enhaii Halal Tourism Center at NHI Bandung Tourism Polytechnic. It was launched at the Indonesia Sharia Economic Festival at the Jakarta International Convention Center.
Central Java rose three places from fifth, adding 6.3 points, and posted the country’s best services score. West Nusa Tenggara came third and has stayed in the national top three since 2018.
West Sumatra, East Java, Aceh and Banten followed.
Average scores among provinces ranked in both editions rose 4.8%. South Kalimantan made the fastest year-on-year gain at 8.1 points. Jakarta ranked first for access for the fifth edition running.
The index weights services at 40%, environment at 30%, communication at 20% and access at 10%.
Dadang Muljawan, head of the sharia economic and finance department at Bank Indonesia, said the index gave provinces a blueprint for strengthening what they offer visitors.
The report found that aviation fuel costs at major transit hubs rose 72% between the baseline period and April 2026, making domestic fares to secondary destinations harder to afford. It also urged providers to make halal dining and prayer room information readable by AI search tools.
Tourism professionals heard in June that the halal travel market is expanding well beyond traditional destinations.
Indonesia’s SEHATI programme, run by the halal product assurance agency BPJPH, has provided 1.35 million free halal certification quotas to micro and small businesses.
