The Number Of Tourists From Japan Is Far From Target, Sandiaga Reveals This Strategy

Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno (Photo: dock. VOI)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) revealed that there are a number of efforts to increase the number of foreign tourists from Japan returning to travel in Indonesia.

Given, the number of foreign tourists visiting from Japan is still far from the expected target.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said the first efforts made were to promote tourist destinations and creative economy products in the Asean Japan Tourism Minister's Special Dialogue activity on 27-29 October, and Tourism Expo Japan 2023.

"Yesterday, October 27-29, we attended the Asean Japan Tourism Minister's Special Dialogue and participated in the Tourism Expo Japan, there were also several bilateral meetings. We focus on increasing tourists from Japan who are still not back at a number we have achieved before the pandemic," said Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga at The Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno online monitored in Jakarta, Monday, October 30.

Sandi, the minister's nickname, said that the second effort was to introduce and promote creative economy products (Ekraf) owned by Indonesia at the 2023 Tourism Expo Japan.

"There are 15 local tourism industries, some from Yogyakarta are also present, and this is promoting apart from tourism, are our creative economy products such as Indonesian coffee from Toraja, Sumba, and Gayo," he said.

According to Sandi, in addition to promoting tourist destinations and Indonesian creative economy products, the third effort that can be done is to encourage the Cangkringan golf course in Sleman, Yogyakarta.

This is because the average tourist visiting Indonesia comes from young people and likes golf sports activities.

"Because there are many tourists from Japan who like to play golf, one of the golf courses that we will encourage is the Cangkringan golf course in Sleman," said Sandi.

In addition, Sandi said, his party will also seek to open direct flights from Japan to Yogyakarta. This is done to increase the number of foreign tourists visiting from the country of Sakura.

"This requires direct flights, we hope that apart from Tokyo to Denpasar and Jakarta, as well as Tokyo to Yogyakarta, because we want sustainable tourism. Moreover, there is also a Nglanggeran tourist village in Gunung Kidul, we promoted it at the Tourism Expo Japan yesterday.

Based on data from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Kemenparekraf) before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of Japanese tourists on vacation in Indonesia is less than Indonesian tourists to Japan.

Japanese tourists to Indonesia range from 520,000 people per year, while Indonesian tourists who travel to Japan reach 920,000 people per year.