Jakarta, Nov. 21 -- Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana says shopping activities are among the key attractions for tourists visiting a country.

"We must promote shopping tourism to neighboring countries, to ASEAN, and to other markets as well," Widiyanti said during a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.

According to her, strong tourist interest in shopping is reflected in 2024 trends, with the average spending of foreign visitors in Indonesia reaching US$1,391. Of that amount, 11.4 percent was spent on souvenirs or gifts.

She added that the Ministry of Tourism's Deputy for Promotion has reported a significant surge in shopping activities in Bali, particularly among tourists from India.

Based on her own observations, Widiyanti...