Indonesia-Chingkok Tourism Cooperation Encourages National Tourism Potential

JAKARTA - Cooperation in the tourism sector between Indonesia and China shows strategic steps in strengthening bilateral relations as well as opening up great opportunities for creative economic growth.

This collaboration not only strengthens the partnership between the two countries, but also marks international confidence in Indonesia's competitiveness in the future.

Deputy for Industry and Investment of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Rizki Handayani Mustafa, explained that this collaboration is proof that the Indonesian tourism sector has strategic value in the eyes of international partners.

He mentioned the visit of the President of China to meet directly with President Prabowo as an indication of the importance of relations between the two countries, including the tourism sector.

One of the fields discussed at the meeting was tourism. The two countries realize that there are a variety of tourism products that have the potential to be enjoyed by each other by their respective communities," Rizki said when interviewed in Jakarta, as quoted by Antara.

The huge potential of the Indonesian tourism market is one of the main reasons China is willing to cooperate. The Chinese government sees the economic opportunities of this cooperation, both in terms of tourist visits and potential development of destinations.

For Indonesia, this agreement brings significant benefits, such as increasing the number of quality tourists from China and the possibility of the entry of modern tourism technology. This technology can be applied to improve services and efficiency in the management of tourist destinations.

Technology such as fast-growing renewable energy in China can also be explored to be implemented in our tourism sector. In addition, there is a great opportunity to transfer knowledge," he added.

In addition to increasing the number of tourists, this collaboration also opens investment opportunities in the tourism sector. According to Rizki, the entry of foreign investment will encourage the development of tourism infrastructure while increasing service standards in accordance with the expectations of foreign tourists.

"Usually investment from a country will bring along the market. For example, if investors come from Japan, there will be a tendency for Japanese tourists to be interested because they feel confident in service standards that suit their habits," he said.

Rizki also highlighted the importance of the presence of an official travel agency based in Indonesia. For this reason, he emphasized that all foreign entities who want to open a business in this sector must comply with the rules and invest significantly in the country.

What is meant is a travel agency, not just an agent. They must have a physical office in Indonesia as a form of investment commitment," he explained.

In addition, foreign travel agencies operating in Indonesia are also required to empower local tour guides. This step is expected to be able to boost the capacity of Indonesian human resources, especially in mastering Mandarin and understanding the needs of tourists from China.

According to Rizki, with operational offices in Indonesia, the government can carry out direct supervision and ensure all activities run according to regulations.

"In the short term, if this investment is in accordance with the rules and has a positive impact on Indonesia, then of course it will greatly benefit the national tourism sector," he concluded.