Efforts to achieve the target of foreign and domestic tourists are supported by increasing the number of flights and availability of seats as well as holding quality events in the country.

Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo has asked for the target of foreign and domestic tourists in 2023 to be achieved, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, said.

The target of foreign tourists and domestic tourists is supported by increasing the number of flights and availability of seats as well as organizing quality events in the country, the minister said in 'The Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno' which took place at the Sapta Pesona Building, Jakarta, Monday (Jan. 30).

Sandiaga said the president gave the directive in a limited meeting regarding economic and tourism activities after the lifting of the Implementation of Restrictions on Community Activities (locally known as PPKM) at the State Palace in Jakarta, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy in a statement quoted by Indonesia Window, Tuesday.

"The president's directive is that the target should be achieved by increasing the number of flights and availability of seats, ease of regulations including issuance of visas, free visit visas and visas on arrival, as well as organizing quality events," the minister noted.

For additional flights, he explained, three market countries namely India, China and Russia would be the main focus, because the demands from the peoples of these three countries to visit Indonesia, especially Bali, are very high.

Especially for the Chinese market, there have been direct flights with a charter system, in the hope that these flights can be increased with scheduled direct flights so that the target of 7.4 million foreign tourists and 1.4 billion domestic tourists this year can be achieved.

"Today the recovery of foreign tourist visits is below 40 percent. Maybe it can start with charter flights and continue with regular flights," Sandiaga said.

Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Ni Made Ayu Marthini, explained that specifically for the Chinese market, every week there are direct flights with a charter system.

Currently, a review by the Chinese government is being carried out regarding the aviation agreement.

"The industry hopes that there would be regular (flights), and many have requested. Before the pandemic there were 16 direct flights, and the Chinese government had said that those who had previously been given permits and slots (flights) had no problems. We hope that in spring in April-May it can start again," Made said.

In support of the implementation of quality events including MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions), sports, music and other creative activities, the president requested that the licensing process be simplified through digitization.

"This digital-based permit will be presented so that there will be no more difficulties getting permission to shoot films. Everything is transparent and will be managed on a digital basis, also for MICE, music, sports, and others," Sandiaga said.

He gave an example, the film ‘The Last of Us’ which is currently going viral because it uses Jakarta (Indonesia’s capital city) as the background story and has also involved a number of Indonesian stars.

Even though it was set in the capital city of Jakarta, most of the shooting was actually done in Canada. This is because the licensing process is quite difficult to obtain, according to the production house.

"The target is that in the next three months (permits) can be finalized, if a legal umbrella is needed such as a presidential decree," according to Sandiaga.

He said President Joko Widodo also asked for the development of five super priority tourism destinations to be accelerated, including the Likupang tourist destination in North Sulawesi.

Reporting by Indonesia Window