Prabowo Asks For International Flight Lines Directly To Tourist Areas To Be Expanded

Presiden Prabowo Subianto (Foto: Cahyo/Biro Pers Sekretariat Presiden)

JAKARTA - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto asked Transportation Minister Dudy Purwagandhi to open as many international flight routes as possible directly to various tourist destinations in Indonesia.

"The president asked the Minister of Transportation to open as many international flight routes as possible from abroad directly to the destination area," said Head of the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) Hasan Nasbi when giving a press statement at the PCO Office, Kwarnas Building, Jakarta, Antara, Thursday, August 7.

The directive was conveyed by President Prabowo at the Plenary Cabinet Session which was held the day before at the Presidential Office, Presidential Palace Complex, Jakarta.

According to Hasan, the opening of international flight routes directly from abroad to domestic tourist destinations is part of the government's strategy to maximize the potential of the tourism sector as a source of state revenue.

"So you don't have to go through Jakarta first, but go directly to the destination," Hasan said.

The President also requested that airports that are infrastructure and operationally ready be opened immediately to serve international flights. This step is believed to increase the flow of foreign tourists, as well as expand the economic impact in the region.

"This tourism sector will create a lot of jobs and also the potential for extraordinary state revenues," Hasan said.

Previously, during a state visit to Russia in mid-June, President Prabowo also conveyed Indonesia's openness to the increase in the number of direct flights from Russia to various cities.

"We open opportunities, if you want to add flights, not only to Bali, but to other cities in Indonesia. We opened it for direct flights from Russia," Prabowo said at the time.