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Indonesia seeks Saudi Arabia’s support to develop Sumatra tourism
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The gorgeous view of Belitung Island's seascape in Bangka Belitung Islands province. Indonesia will seek for Saudi Arabia’s support to develop local tourism in Sumatra, including in West Sumatra and Bangka Belitung Islands. (Shutterstock/File)
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ndonesia will seek for Saudi Arabia’s support to develop local tourism during the visit of the Middle Eastern country’s leader, King Salman, slated on Mar. 1 to 9.
Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) chief Thomas “Tom” Lembong said the issue would become a major discussion topic brought by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo when he met King Salman.
“One of the main bilateral agenda between President Jokowi and King Salman will be [a discussion] in tourism sector,” he said in a press briefing on the sideline of the Regional Investment Forum in Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center on Wednesday.
(Read also: Jokowi to welcome Saudi Arabia’s King Salman, investment)
Tom said among the potential tourism opportunities for Saudi Arabian investors were those located in West Sumatra and Bangka Belitung Islands, as the Middle East is much closer to the provinces instead of to the resort island of Bali.
“It will save up to two-hour flight [by visiting West Sumatra and Belitung instead of Bali],” he said.
Boosting investment in the tourism industry has been one of BKPM’s priority agendas this year apart from seeking overseas support for local manufacturing and infrastructure sector.
The 2017 Regional Investment Forum is focused on luring investors worldwide to build public infrastructure to improve underdeveloped tourism potential sites across the archipelago in an effort to achieve the government’s target to attract 20 million foreign tourists by 2019.
During the second day of forum on Thursday, Tourism Minister Arief Yahya emphasized the importance of private investors’ support to help develop public infrastructure, such as airport and wastewater treatment facility. (hwa)
