Thailand-Kamboja Conflict, Indonesia Has The Opportunity To Attract Foreign Tourists

JAKARTA - Geopolitical tensions that occur between Thailand and Cambodia open up great opportunities for Indonesia to attract more foreign tourists.

In a situation where security factors are the top priority in choosing holiday destinations, Indonesia appears as a promising choice because of its relatively well-maintained political and security stability in the Southeast Asia region.

Taufan Rahmadi, Expert Council of the National Solidarity Movement (GSN) for Tourism, assesses that the dynamics of global tourism is strongly influenced by the security conditions of a country.

"In my opinion, of course, it is possible, because we both know that in the dynamics of global tourism, one of the main considerations for tourists is the security factor," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

He explained that Indonesia has its own advantage as a politically safe and stable country, making it a potential destination amidst uncertainties that hit neighboring countries.

The natural beauty, cultural friendliness, and wealth of tourist attractions are strong capital to attract foreign tourist visits.

However, Taufan reminded that this potential will not be maximized without an aggressive promotional strategy. The government and tourism industry players are encouraged to be more active in introducing Indonesia as a destination that is not only safe, but also attractive through well-packed tour packages and communications that emphasize the comfort and security of traveling in the country.

Although the conflict in Thailand and Cambodia has not shown a direct impact on the Indonesian tourism sector based on the data he monitors, Taufan warned of a potential misunderstanding from foreign tourists.

"We must be aware of the assumption that because we are in the same area, Indonesia is also not safe," he said.

Meanwhile, Azril Azhari, Chairman of the Indonesian Tourism Cendekiawan Association (ICPI), emphasized that despite regional conflicts, Indonesia actually already has a strong appeal, especially in the fitness tourism sector which is currently a global trend. According to him, Indonesia has great potential to outperform Thailand in this regard.

"Indonesia must be able to bind foreign tourists to vacation because it has fitness tourism with its advantages from Thailand. Indonesia has very diverse fitness tours," he said.

The choice of fitness activities in Indonesia is very wide, ranging from spas, health therapy, yoga to meditation. Places such as La Joya, Jeeva Klui Resort, and various areas in Karanganyar, Kintamani, Sanur, and Canggu are favorites for international tourists.

In addition, health services and relaxation such as traditional massages, lululs, RIGHTs, and other body care are widely available. Tourism Special Economic Zones (SEZs) focused on medical tourism are also growing, complete with international standard medical facilities and herbal-based traditional medicine.

On the island of Java, for example, there is Kandang Village in Bantul which is famous for its herbal tourism. Meanwhile in Tawangmangu, Indonesian Atsiri House is an educational destination that introduces various benefits of atsiri plants to visitors.

This is all reinforced by the rich culture of the Nusantara Spice Line, which since thousands of years ago has been used for treatment, spa, and healthy culinary. This spice-based consumption pattern supports a healthy lifestyle and is a selling point in itself, "explained Azril.

He also added that Indonesian spices have been known since 4,500 years ago by the Austronesian people and became the main target of the European people during the colonial period. This long history strengthens Indonesia's position as a natural health center and global holistic tourism.