Initially, the nomenclature of this position was included in the Minister of Land Transportation, Post and Telecommunications.

Then in the Revised Dwikora Cabinet (1966), this position was separated into the Minister of Tourism, first held by Hamengkubuwana IX.

However, in the same year, precisely on July 25, 1966, this position was abolished, along with the end of the Second Revised Dwikora Cabinet.

In 1999, under President Abdurrahman Wahid, this position changed its name to Minister of State for Tourism and Art.

In 2001, in the Mutual Assistance Cabinet under Megawati Sukarnoputri, the cultural nomenclature was included in this position, so the name of the position changed to State Minister of Culture and Tourism.