PORTALJABAR, BANDUNG CITY - West Java Province achieved First National Ranking in the Indonesia Muslim Travel Index (IMTI) 2025. This extraordinary achievement was driven by strong performance in terms of access, communication, environment, and services which are the assessments of IMTI 2025.

IMTI was released by CrescentRating, the Ministry of Tourism, Bank Indonesia, and Enhaii Halal Tourism Center (EHTC).

West Java received the highest score (Rank 1) in the environmental criteria, at 82.8. This superior environmental score reflects the West Java Provincial Government's strong commitment to halal tourism, high volumes of domestic and international tourist visits, and robust sustainable tourism practices.

Meanwhile, West Java also demonstrated solid service performance (ranked third with a score of 75.7) and good communication (ranked third with a score of 67.5). This achievement was achieved thanks to the wide availability of halal restaurants, rich cultural heritage, and adequate facilities at hotels and airports for Muslim travelers.

This commitment is further demonstrated by the appointment of the Greater Bandung and Greater Cirebon areas as pilot project areas for the implementation of the RIDA Impact Score (RIS), a framework that measures ethical practices, immersive experiences, digital innovation, and assured service.

In addition to topping the IMTI 2025 ranking with a total score of 69.6, West Java also received the Special Recognition Award of Muslim Friendly Destination .

This achievement is the result of strong multi-stakeholder synergy in West Java, consisting of academics, businesses, communities, government, and the media.

The West Java Provincial Government, through the Department of Tourism and Culture (Disparbud), has demonstrated concrete steps through its flagship program, Smiling West Java Muslim-Friendly Tourism (SWJ-MFT), launched in 2024.

This program is the first provincial-level ranking program in Indonesia in implementing Muslim-Friendly Tourism instruments.

The West Java Provincial Government also collaborated with the Indonesian University of Education (UPI) and Telkom University in creating HalalBot , a Deep Learning- based Chatbot that helps Muslim travelers plan safe and comfortable trips.

The commitment to product assurance is also evident, with West Java being the province with the largest number of halal-certified products in Indonesia, reaching 1.3 million. This directly supports the MSME/cooperative and trade sectors.

Furthermore, the Muslim-Friendly Tourism (MFT) movement is now being implemented at the district and city levels. The goal is to ensure the comprehensive implementation of Muslim-friendly tourism instruments.

Head of the West Java Province Tourism and Culture Office, Iendra Sofyan, emphasized that this success is a golden momentum.

"This achievement is due to the synergy between the government, academics, tourism industry players, the media, and the people of West Java. The Disparbud and EHTC teams began refining the concept of Muslim-friendly tourism in 2024 and have delivered maximum results today," said Iendra.

This improved IMTI 2025 ranking should be utilized to strengthen West Java's position as a leading Muslim-friendly tourist destination in Indonesia.

By continuously improving comfort, convenience, and service assurance in accordance with the principles of Muslim-friendly tourism, West Java is expected to attract more Muslim tourists, both domestic and international.

This also serves as an impetus to continue fostering synergy among stakeholders in developing an inclusive, sustainable, and globally competitive tourism ecosystem. This will stimulate regional economic growth and enhance West Java's positive image.