Improve Services For Tourists, Sandiaga Targets Additional Flights At Ngurah Rai Airport

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno. (Doc. Kemenparekraf)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno targets an increase in numbers to I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali, from Australia, Asia, America and Europe.

This was revealed by Sandiaga after a coordination meeting with PT Angkasa Pura (AP) I to discuss accessibility and improve services for tourists.

Sandiaga said, there are three conclusions that can be drawn from the coordination meeting. The first is related to connectivity, which requires an increase in the number of flights that can reach the main Indonesian market, such as Australia, Europe, Asia, and America.

"We have mapped out several additional flights that we will add in 2024, including those we are targeting from Turkish Airlines, Etihad, there are also several additional international airlines," Sandiaga said in a written statement received by VOI, Friday, January 12.

He added, with the addition of the number of flights, it is hoped that I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport can serve passengers like before the pandemic in 2019, which was 24,169,561 passengers.

The second conclusion is that all relevant stakeholders are expected to collaborate to ensure the experience and comfort of foreign tourists (tourists) during their visit to Bali is not disrupted, after the implementation of the regional retribution withdrawal policy of 10 US dollars starting February 14, 2024.

"This cost is for the progress and sustainability of culture and waste management which we hope can provide added value for tourists," he said.

The third is an effort to control the density of tourists so that they are not centered in just one area, as happened on December 29, 2023.

This density interferes with the smooth running of traffic (traffic) in the southern part of Bali.

One of his efforts is to develop mainstay tourist destinations in northern Bali, such as Buleleng and Karangasem, western Bali, namely Jembrana, and also eastern Bali, namely Klungkung.

In addition, efforts that are being explored with the Traffic Corps (Korlantas) are an open-close scheme as is often done in a number of areas, especially in West Java.

"This is what we are starting to simulate and coordinate. We also plan to present LRT transportation and propose sea-based transportation. So, from the Canggu point, Jimbaran, Kuta can be connected to the so-called sea taxi. Of course this will really support tourism in Bali," he said.