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Tourism Ministry attracts European investors at London's 'Indonesia Briefing'
In 2017, Indonesian tourism takes the 42nd spot in Tourism Competitiveness Index Ranking.
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Bangka Belitung is famous for its rocky beaches. (Shutterstock/File)
T
he Indonesian embassy in the United Kingdom and Ireland recently conducted an event called "Indonesia Briefing" in London on September 19.
Guests of the event include UK prime minister’s envoy to Indonesia and ASEAN Richard Graham MP, Indonesia’s minister of women’s empowerment and child protection Prof. Dr. Yohana S. Yembise and Bank Indonesia’s IMF/WB 2018 annual meeting team head, Peter Jacob.
The tourism ministry used the opportunity to talk and create business opportunities with European investors regarding Indonesian tourism.
These investors were presented with Indonesian natural landscapes and resources that ranked the 14th in the world [based on data from World Economic Forum 2017].
“This event wants to give the latest updates on Indonesia’s condition in terms of politics, economy, social, culture and the Trade, Tourism and Investment (TTI) sector,” explained tourism ministry's head of development acceleration for priority tourist destinations, Hiramsyah S. Thaib.
Hiramsyah added that there is a huge investment opportunity for the tourism sector in Indonesia.
Tourism is the biggest GDP and foreign exchange contributor, the industry also provides the easiest job opportunities.
In 2017, Indonesian tourism takes the 42nd spot in Tourism Competitiveness Index Ranking.
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The data provided by the tourism ministry in 2014 shows that tourism will become the main sector and contributes the highest foreign exchange by 2020, “Way beyond oil and gas industry,” Hiramsyah told.
President Joko Widodo himself has set tourism as a leading sector that should be supported by other ministries.
One of the programs that aim to improve Indonesian tourism is called the 10 New Balis. Destinations that are included in the list were presented at the briefing along with their projected performance in the future.
By 2019, Lake Toba in Sumatra is expected to be valued at 1,600 billion dollars, Tanjung Kelayang in Bangka Belitung at 4,000 billion, Old Town and Thousand Islands in DKI Jakarta and Thousand Islands at 1,500 billion, Borobudur in Magelang at 1,500 billion dollars, Bromo – Tengger – Semeru in East Java at 1,40 billion, Mandalika Lombok at 3,000 billion, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara at 1,200 billion, Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi at 1,500 billion and Morotai in North Maluku at 2,900 billion dollars.
The tourism ministry has also implemented Special Economic Zones (KEK) program that emphasizes on tax incentive, import duty, industry regulations and other additional taxes.
“We are also doing social media promotion to promote the 10 New Balis. We recently won two awards in the UNWTO Tourism Video Competition,” said tourism ministry's deputy minister for Overseas Promotion, I Gde Pitana. (asw)
