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Indonesia, Iran to launch direct flights to boost tourism
The agreement to launch direct flights between the two countries is in its final stages, according to a tourism ministry official, and is the latest move in Jakarta's efforts to expand bilateral ties with Tehran.
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A Garuda Indonesia aircraft lands on Feb. 21, 2024 at Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Banda Aceh, Aceh. (AFP/Chaideer Mahyuddin)
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ndonesia and Iran have agreed to launch direct flights connecting Jakarta and Bali with Tehran to enhance bilateral ties between the two countries, especially in tourism.
The government is finalizing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the deal for signing in the next few months, according to Zulkifli Harahap, investment management director at the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry.
Flights between the two countries currently include a layover in Malaysia or Dubai.
“We are hoping to launch direct flights from Iran to Indonesia very soon,” Zulkifli said on Thursday, as quoted by Bisnis.com, adding that direct flights were necessary to boost the tourism industry, especially in attracting international visitors.
He added that the tourism ministry had conducted a study to identify potential areas of collaboration in tourism and the creative economy that would be mutually beneficial for both Indonesia and Iran, such as religious tourism, noting the countries’ similarities.
“Besides tourism, Indonesia’s handicraft and other creative industries could complement each other, creating mutual benefits between Iran and Indonesia, especially in the creative economy sector,” Zulkifli said.
The government has been expanding its ties with Iran, including by signing a preferential trade agreement (PTA) in May 2023 to serve as a gateway for exports to the Middle East.
