Kemenparekraf Targets 53,000 Saudi Arabian Tourist Visits This Year

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno with Minister of Tourism of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ahmed Al Khatieb. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) targets 53,000 foreign tourist visits (tourists) from Saudi Arabia by 2023.

The target is determined to increase the visit of Saudi Arabian foreign tourists who have experienced a decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It was recorded that in 2019, the number of foreign tourists visiting from Saudi Arabia reached 157,512 visitors," said the Director of Regional Marketing II of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Cecep Rukendi in a written statement received by VOI, Tuesday, May 23.

Cecep said the decline in the number of foreign tourists from Saudi Arabia during the pandemic was quite significant, namely only 31,906 visits in 2020 and 2,053 visits in 2021.

Even so, the number of visits began to increase in 2022, reaching 46,508 tourists.

To increase the number of tourist visits again, said Cecep, Indonesia is promoting tourism events in the country of origin.

"Therefore, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy continues to strive to bring in foreign tourists through the implementation of a strategic marketing program by participating in one of the largest tourism exchanges in Saudi Arabia," he said.

Meanwhile, Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy Ni Made Ayu Marthini said that his party together with the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh had promoted the potential of Indonesian parekraf to the Saudi Arabian market by participating in the Riyadh Travel Fair (RTF) 2023.

RTF 2023 will be held at The Arena, Granada Square Exit 9, Riyadh, on 22-24 May 2023. There, Indonesia in particular introduced five Super Priority Destinations (DSP) and Bali.

"In the 2023 RTF, the Indonesian Pavilion will showcase five Super Priority Destinations and Bali, the 2023 ASEAN Indonesia Logo and the Southeast Asia A Destination For Every Dream Logo which will decorate the Indonesian Pavilion as a commitment to participate in marketing ASEAN as a single tourism destination," he concluded.