Increase Spice Exports, Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno Proposes New Government Continued ISUTW Program

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno proposed that the program titled Indonesia Spice Up The World (ISUTW) be continued in the new government of 2024-2029, in order to increase exports of spices and foreign tourists (tourists).

"I advocate that the Indonesia Spice Up The World program be continued in the next government," Sandiaga said, on the sidelines of attending the Asapan Indonesia Co-Branding Forum II, in Jakarta, quoted from Antara, Saturday, July 27.

According to him, the Indonesia Spice Up The World, which is one of the government's programs, was launched by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) in 2021, needs to be continued because it is an effort to increase the marketing of Indonesian processed spices or spices products. Especially in Africa, Australia, and other potential countries.

In addition, programs involving across ministries/agencies are also expected to develop and strengthen Indonesian restaurants abroad, or as part of restaurant diplomacy so that the program can increase processed food exports, especially spices.

Furthermore, Sandiaga said that the Indonesia Spice Up The World targets that by 2024 it can present 4,000 Indonesian restaurants abroad.

"Actually, the Indonesia Spice Up The World was launched by Pak Jokowi in 2021, the taget is 4,000 restaurants that are networked with Indonesia Spice Up The World. If we count from data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it's still a lot of homework," he said again.

Therefore, he hopes that the new government of the president and vice president elected Prabowo Subianto-Gibran Rakabuming Raka, for the period 2024-2029, the program can be continued.

"So that the target of 4,000 restaurants and 2 billion US dollars for spice exports can be achieved. As of today, there are opportunities, but we have to work even harder," he said.

In addition to increasing the export of spices, and the promotion of Indonesian culinary delights, Sandiaga is optimistic that the program will continue to increase foreign tourist visits to the country.

According to him, diaspora entrepreneurs who open businesses abroad are the spearhead to promote Indonesia's tourism and creative economy to parts of the world, thereby attracting the interest of other citizens to travel to their homeland.

In general, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy targets domestic or domestic tourist visits in 2024 to reach 1.2 billion-1.5 billion people, while foreign tourists are targeted at 17 million visits.

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has also set five super priority destinations including Borobudur Temple, Mandalika, Lake Toba, Likupang and Labuan Bajo.