Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta (ANTARA) – The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism is strengthening its collaboration with the Indonesian Halal Product Assurance Agency (BPJPH) to accelerate the halal certification of micro, small, and medium enterprise (MSME) products in 1,500 tourism villages.As of May 2026, tens of thousands of halal certificates have been issued under the collaboration.”This collaboration has yielded 31,548 halal certificates across 1,116 tourism villages spanning 34 provinces in Indonesia,” Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana said during a visit to review the halal certification distribution in Jatimulyo Tourism Village, Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta, on Sunday.During the working visit alongside BPJPH Head Haikal Hasan, she explained that the acceleration program is a concrete step toward delivering high-quality, inclusive tourism that ensures safety and comfort for travelers.The synergy was pioneered in July 2025 through a pilot project involving 20 tourism villages.Driven by its positive impact, the program was significantly expanded in late 2025 to reach 1,500 tourism villages across various regions.Specifically in Jatimulyo Tourism Village, a total of 123 entrepreneurs with 139 products have officially secured halal certification as of May 30, 2026.Wardhana underscored that the halal certification is not merely a matter of administrative compliance; it serves as a vital component in improving product quality, boosting tourist confidence, and expanding the economic impact for local communities.The Ministry of Tourism also expressed its appreciation to BPJPH, regional governments, tourism village managers, and MSMEs for their commitment to supporting the program.”Moving forward, this cross-sector synergy will be continuously strengthened so that Indonesia's tourism villages can become more competitive and sustainable, while delivering tangible benefits to the wider community,” she remarked.