Tourism Visits to Borneo Post-IKN Have Indeed Surged

The IKN project has acted as a major catalyst for Borneo's tourism sector, delivering tangible and widespread economic benefits.

The number of tourist visits to Borneo, especially in East Kalimantan (Kaltim), has spiked dramatically since the development of the new capital, Nusantara (IKN).

According to official data from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) and the East Kalimantan Tourism Office, this rise is evident in both domestic (wisata nusantara - wisnus) and international (wisatawan mancanegara - wisman) tourists up through September 2025. For the first seven months of 2025 alone, domestic visits hit over 4 million, reaching 60% of the yearly goal of 6.9 million visitors. That's a clear upward trend starting from IKN's partial operations in 2024.

To put it in perspective, 2024 saw a total of 9.38 million domestic visits to Kaltim already more than the province's population and about 55,000 international ones. But 2025 shows even faster growth: from January to August, domestic numbers climbed to 7.68 million, up 53% from the same period last year.

On the international side, June 2025 recorded 1,045 visits, a whopping 259% jump from June 2024's mere 291. April 2025 marked the highest peak in three years with 792 visits, and July 2025 rose 80% to 1,009 compared to the previous July.

This surge is largely fueled by new accessibility features like the Nusantara International Airport and promotions highlighting IKN as a "smart forest city," drawing curious travelers to this massive project. The boost isn't limited to Kaltim; it spills over to all of Borneo, including South Kalimantan via events like Pamor Borneo 2025. BPS data from November 2024 already hinted at this trend with 648 international visitors, and it's kept building into 2025.

Positive Impacts: Boosting the Economy and Local Development

The IKN project has acted as a major catalyst for Borneo's tourism sector, delivering tangible and widespread economic benefits.

First off, it sparks growth in creative economies and small businesses. Tourist influxes drive demand for Dayak handicrafts, local cuisine, and cultural festivals like the East Borneo International Folklore Festival (EBIFF) 2025, which drew thousands from six countries. This has lifted small business incomes by up to 40% in places like Samarinda and Balikpapan. At Pamor Borneo, export Letters of Intent (LoI) for tourism crafts reached Rp 2 billion.

Overall, IKN's development is credited with positively impacting Kaltim's tourism, including extending visitors' stays to three days in Balikpapan, which revives the hotel and hospitality sectors and creates 5,000 new jobs.

Second, it attracts investments and improves infrastructure. By mid-2025, tourism investments hit Rp 10 trillion, including five-star hotels from Brunei and integrated entertainment centers. Backed by incentives like tax holidays from the Kaltim provincial government, this strengthens Borneo's position as a regional hub with a combined GDP of US$165 billion.

The result? Samarinda's local revenue (PAD) from hotels and food jumps 15%, while South Kalimantan's Meratus Geopark becomes a fresh destination linked to IKN routes, projecting Rp 5 trillion in contributions to Borneo's GDP by 2026.

Third, it promotes culture and sustainable tourism. IKN spotlights Dayak culture on the global stage through initiatives like the "IKN Aesthetic Tourism Villages" program, engaging 50 villages in agro-tourism. Not only does this preserve heritage, but it also boosts creative economy exports, such as Dayak batik for international markets.

Negative Impacts: Environmental and Social Challenges

Despite the upsides, the post-IKN tourism boom brings serious downsides that demand attention.

Primarily, environmental degradation is a big issue. Infrastructure building has damaged 185 square kilometers of forest around Balikpapan Bay, threatening orangutan habitats, Irrawaddy dolphins, and mangroves. Converting land for exclusive tourism could diminish long-term natural appeal, with forecasts suggesting Borneo might lose its "lungs of the world" role in 20 years if unchecked.

Social and cultural conflicts arise. The displacement of 200 indigenous people in Penajam Paser Utara for new tourism projects endangers ancestral heritage, affecting eight villages with social structure changes. IKN's modernity is accused of "silencing" local traditions, though the IKN Authority has hired 1,000 locals as tour guides to help mitigate this.

Benefits aren't evenly distributed. Economic gains favor big cities like Balikpapan over remote villages, and construction pollution burdens local communities.

Wrapping It Up: Balancing Opportunities and Risks

In summary, the rise in tourism visits after IKN is a verified fact, offering a net positive for Borneo's economy and positioning it as a world-class destination.

Yet, for true sustainability, the government needs independent environmental audits and stronger inclusive programs. With the right strategies; like IKN's 70% green space commitment; Borneo can maximize gains while minimizing harms

by Rangkaya Bada