Menparekraf Values Chairship Of ASEAN Indonesia 2023 Opportunities To Promote Tourism

JAKARTA - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno assessed that the chairmanship of ASEAN Indonesia 2023 is one of the opportunities to strengthen the promotion of Indonesia's tourism potential.

During a working visit to Malang City, East Java, Sunday, Sandiaga said that the chairmanship of ASEAN Indonesia 2023 is an opportunity to show that the domestic tourism sector is the best in the region.

"The chairman of ASEAN Indonesia 2023, this is our opportunity to show that Indonesian tourism is already superior in ASEAN," Sandiaga said as quoted by Antara, Sunday.

Sandiaga assessed that the Indonesian tourism sector is currently considered superior when compared to other ASEAN member countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. Indonesia's tourism potential is considered very large.

According to him, with the potential for this very promising tourism sector, it must be the main focus to revive the Indonesian economy, which was previously affected by the disease pandemic due to the spread of the Corona virus.

"Let us focus on this (tourism sector) for the revival of our economy and provide economic solutions for our society," he said.

He added, specifically in the Greater Malang area, there are a number of tourist villages that receive awards. In the Malang Regency area, he continued, there are two villages that receive national and international awards and become promising potentials.

One of them is Pujon Kidul Tourism Village, Malang Regency, which received the 2021 Indonesian Tourism Village Award (ADWI) for the Inspirational Mandiri Village Category.

Meanwhile, he continued, Sanankerto Village won IIIth place in the Tourism Attractive Village Category, and received appreciation from international forums, for its participation in the 5th ASEAN Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Awards in 2022.

"Therefore, I also encourage other tours, not only in East Java, but throughout Indonesia to become a world-class tourist village," he said.

In an effort to improve the quality of these tourist villages, he continued, the government will provide assistance to existing tourism actors. In addition, his party will also strengthen promotional steps to optimize existing potential.

"We provide mentoring training, and the Indonesian Tourism Village Award program will promote. We hope that more tourist visits, both foreign and archipelago," he said.

On that occasion, Sandiaga visited Heritage Kayuangan Village in Malang City. The Heritage Kayuangan Village is one of 75 selected Indonesian Tourism Villages in 2023.

Sandiaga also stopped at a number of points ranging from Namsin House, Mbah Honggo Tomb, Mbah Ndut Coffee Shop, Bakiak Crafts, Oenbitjkoek Cake Center, Riverside pedestrian photo Spot, Krempyeng Market to 1870 House.