Increase Tourism, Sandiaga Uno Prepares 5 Selected Destinations

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno (Instagram Sandiuno)

JAKARTA - Tourism is the sector most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To support this sector's recovery, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno will form 5 selected destinations, in addition to 5 super-priority destinations.

With the establishment of 5 selected destinations, the government hopes that the tourism sector will support the national economy this year.

"We are preparing selected destinations. There are 5 super-priority destinations, but 5 more are being prepared including Belitung, Wakatobi, Raja Ampat, Morotai, and other destinations", Sandiaga said in the HIPMI Rakernas 2021 held online, Friday, March 5.

In addition, Sandiaga said, the government is still preparing backbone destinations, such as Bali, Batam, Bintan, Jabodetabek, Puncak, Jogja, Solo, Semarang, Bromo, Tengger, and Semeru. The goal is to restore the tourism sector which has been hit by the impact of COVID-19.

The government, Sandiaga said, is focused on encouraging this sector to recover. This is because the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy noted, there are 34 million people who depend on the tourism sector and creative economy for their livelihoods that now collapse due to the pandemic. In fact, more than 2 million lost their jobs.

Also, Sandi said, the workforce in the tourism sector in 2020 is projected to be 13.97 million people, down 6.57 percent compared to 2019 with 14.96 million people. Meanwhile, the foreign exchange of the tourism sector in 2020 is estimated to be USD 3.2 billion, or a decrease of 81 percent compared to 2019 of USD 16.91 billion.

Then, the number of domestic tourists in 2020 reached 198.2 million people, down 29.7 percent compared to 2019. The number of foreign tourists in 2020 was only 4.02 million people, down 75.03 percent compared to the previous year.

To encourage the recovery of the tourism sector and creative economy, Sandiaga reminded all parties not to be pessimistic. Efforts to generate tourism can be done with a focus on domestic tourists.

"While (focusing) on overcoming COVID-19, national tourism is a mainstay", he said.

Sandiaga has visited one of the super-priority destinations, namely Likupang, North Sulawesi. He came to see and prepare the supporting infrastructure in the area.

According to Sandiaga, this is by the direction of President Joko Widodo who asked for the acceleration of infrastructure development in 5 priority destinations.

Sandiaga also strives to maintain discipline in tourism, such as the discipline of cleanliness, safety, and environmental sustainability.