Menparekraf Sandiaga: ASEAN Must Strengthen Economic Awakening Collaboration Through Tourism

BETWEEN/HO

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Uno invited ASEAN countries to strengthen collaboration in order to realize the region as a center for global economic growth through tourism.

At the opening ceremony of the 2023 ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) which took place at the Prambanan Temple, Yogyakarta, on Thursday, February 3 evening, Sandiaga said, "Being the largest tourism forum in the Southeast Asia region must be able to become a discussion room to reformulate the tourism sector so that it is more adaptive to the current and future situation."

According to Sandiaga, ASEAN countries must be able to build tourism destinations based on three main foundations, namely resilience, security, and sustainability.

"This is in line with this year's theme of 'A Journey toten Destinations', which ignites the spirit of tourism recovery," he said in a written statement, Saturday, February 4.

To achieve this goal, Sandiaga said there are three things that can be initiated together. First, Gercep (fast movement), where the government and all stakeholders must be able to provide relevant mentoring programs to help encourage the revival of the tourism sector and the creative economy throughout the region.

"Such as competency certification and capacity building that can become the main program, as we have done in (developing) five super priority destinations and 10 priority destinations," he said.

Second, Geber (Joint Movement). Menparekraf Sandiaga believes collaborative action between stakeholders is very important in encouraging the tourism recovery process.

"One example is through planning and implementing quality national and international-scale events. This requires the involvement of various sectors including the government, the private sector, and other parties," he said.

Third or last, Gaspol (Garap All Potential Fields). In achieving this, Sandiaga said that his party had presented diversification of tourism products through the development of ecotourism, Muslim-friendly tourism, health tourism, and also domestic tourism packages.

"We are optimistic that this diversification will not only open up job opportunities, but also increase the added value aspect of our tourism and provide more options for tourists visiting our territory," he concluded.