Indonesia, Qatar explore sports, tourism cooperation

hartono · Apr 17, 2026

Youth and Sports Minister Erick Thohir (second right), accompanied by his staff, welcomes Sultan bin Mubarak Al-Dosari, Qatar’s ambassador to Indonesia, at the Ministry of Youth and Sports office in Senayan, Jakarta, Thursday (April 17, 2026). (ANTARA/HO-Humas Kemenpora RI)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is exploring cooperation with Qatar to develop sports academies and expand sports tourism, its youth and sports minister said after meeting the Gulf state’s ambassador in Jakarta.

“Indonesia needs to learn from Qatar, which has one of the most advanced sports industries,” Minister Erick Thohir said in an official statement released on Friday.

During a meeting at the ministry’s office in Senayan, Jakarta, on Thursday, Thohir and his delegation discussed potential strategic cooperation with Ambassador Sultan bin Mubarak Al-Dosari.

Accompanied by ministry secretary Gunawan Suswantoro and advisers, the minister focused on opportunities to build long-term bilateral collaboration in sports development and related sectors.

Thohir said Indonesia aims to develop an integrated sports ecosystem alongside sports-based tourism, seeking to replicate successful international models to support athlete development and industry growth.

He highlighted Aspire Zone Foundation as an example, noting its comprehensive approach spanning athlete training, sports science and infrastructure management within a unified system.

The meeting, he said, marked an important step to explore broader cooperation opportunities, particularly in sports industries and tourism, to ensure sustainable growth of Indonesia’s sports ecosystem.

“I hope this meeting will open wider avenues for cooperation, particularly in developing the national sports ecosystem,” said Thohir, who also heads the Indonesian Football Association.

He said the right partnerships would help Indonesia build a more structured sports system and improve its competitiveness at the international level.

Thohir also underscored the importance of sports diplomacy in strengthening ties between countries and advancing cooperation in areas linked to sports development and tourism.

“I am convinced that sports diplomacy will be key to strengthening cross-border collaboration,” he said, adding it could help Indonesia build a more competitive and globally integrated sports ecosystem.