Pak Sandiaga, They Are Waiting For A Breakthrough. In Tourism

BINTAN - Once competed in the 2019 presidential election, now Sandiaga Uno has been appointed by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) as Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy. Sandiaga's appointment is expected to bring fresh air to tourism, which seems to be suspended animation due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The head of the Bintan Regency Tourism Office, Wan Rudi, expressed hopes for Sandiaga's performance. He hopes Sandiaga Uno can open the door to foreign tourists to the Riau Islands Province (Kepri), especially Batam and Bintan.

Wan Rudi said Riau Islands was the second largest entry point for foreign tourists after Bali in 2019, but since COVID-19 hit the Central Government's policy to close the entrance to foreign tourists to Indonesia, Bintan tourism immediately collapsed. The impact is the closure of a number of hotels and layoffs of employees, especially in the international tourist area of Lagoi, Bintan.

"Kepri is the face of Indonesia in front of border countries, such as Malaysia and Singapore. The good and bad of Indonesia is very much determined by the Riau Islands, especially Batam and Bintan," said Wan Rudi in Bintan, quoted by Antara, Tuesday, December 22.

Wan Rudi hopes that after the inauguration, the Riau Islands Provincial Government through the Tourism Office can invite Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno to come to Riau Islands to open the entrance to foreign tourists even though on a small scale.

The goal is to make foreign tourists from various countries believe that Indonesia is still a comfortable area to visit.

"Hopefully Pak Sandiaga will go to Bintan to start opening tourism doors. The impact is very big, because it involves Indonesia's performance in handling COVID-19 and the economic sector will move," he said.

He is optimistic that Sandiaga Uno's experience as an entrepreneur and Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta will be able to bring better Riau Islands tourism to the future.

He believes Sandiaga Uno has a quick response to future tourism recovery, because tourism is very important in driving the economy.

"Tourism also drives other economic sectors, for example culinary, lodging, to transportation," said Rudi.

A similar expectation was also conveyed by the Executive Director of Batam Tourism and Promotion Board, Edi Sutrisno. Sandiaga is considered capable of providing fresh air in the morning for tourism in Batam City and other city districts in the Riau Islands Province.

"For us this is a breath of fresh air, because Sandiaga has knowledge of Batam and Riau Islands. He understands the characteristics of Batam as a border area," said Edi Sutrisno.

He stated, since serving as Chairman of HIPMI, Sandiaga Uno has often come to Batam, so that he understands the characteristics of Batam which borders Singapore and Malaysia.

According to him, Sandiaga understands that Batam and Riau Islands must get special treatment, as the second largest contributor to foreign tourist visits in Indonesia.

"We are 'border', border tourism. Border tourism is different from Bali and Java. Our tourism spirit is the 'week-enders', foreign tourists who come on weekends," he said.

Tourists from Singapore, Malaysia and other countries come and go every week. Although time-consuming is short, it is often.

Edi Sutrisno hopes that Sandiaga will pay special attention to the Riau Islands. Border tourism must be put in the Sandiaga program going forward.

"Sandiaga really understands. When he was Chairman of HIPMI he often went to Batam, so he understands more. We welcome Sandiaga with joy," he said.

Edi also hopes that Sandiaga will provide stimulus in the form of programs, by striving for neighboring countries, Singapore and Malaysia to open free time trips for their citizens to come to Batam.

Currently, Singapore is still limiting the travel corridors for business people and official services to Indonesia, through Batam Center International Port. However, not yet for a tour.

He believes, with Sandiaga's experience as a businessman in Singapore, the Menparekraf is able to encourage the opening of a tour from Singapore to Batam.

In addition, Edi also hopes that Sandiaga will provide a stimulus to the implementation of MICE in Batam.

"If there is a tourism meeting to go to Batam and Bintan, so that domestic tourists will move to Batam," he said.

In a separate place, the Chairperson of the Indonesian Kepri Tourism Organization, Marokhimin stated Sandiaga Uno as the right person to hold the post of Minister of Creative Economy.

"We are grateful. In my opinion, in the future, in the near future, the creative economy and tourism will rise with the capabilities he has," he said.

Sandiaga's footprint in raising the OK-OCE community is considered to be a guarantee in improving Indonesia's creative economy.

"OK-OCE, the UMKM community that he serves, can already feel the directives so that they can continue to develop and continue to exist and be improved for the better," he said.

Likewise in the tourism sector, he said Sandiaga likes to travel, wherever places are considered beautiful.

This is in line with the world of tourism in Indonesia. Sandiaga can introduce and promote domestic tourist destinations to become superior tourism, "he said.