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Today's Headlines Tourism
Indonesian President Joko Widodo opened Silangit International Airport on Friday (24/11). The opening of this international airport is expected to give a boost to tourist arrivals at Lake Toba (in Indonesian: Danau Toba) in North Sumatra. Silangit Airport, which is located about 70 kilometers to the south of Lake Toba, makes it much easier for domestic and foreign tourists to travel to the famous lake.
Indonesia's Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) and Tourism Ministry invite private investors to invest in three priority destinations in the country's tourism sector. In total the projects that are on offer require about USD $2.9 billion worth of investment. The projects were offered at the Regional Investment Forum (RIF) in Padang (West Sumatra) that was held between 15-17 October 2017.
For those who are visiting Indonesia's capital city of Jakarta for either touristic purposes or business - and wonder what to do this weekend - there are several events that may be of your interest: (1) the Indonesia Fashion & Craft 2017, (2) Green Habit, Inspiring People to Care About the Ecosystem, and (3) Indonesia Kita (Our Indonesia).
The Sileri Crater at Dieng Plateau, a popular tourist destination in Indonesia's Central Java province, erupted unexpectedly on Sunday (02/07), leading to dozens of injured people as well as panic among tourists and local residents. The area is now closed to all people, while authorities have been evacuating tourists and local residents.
National Geographic, the official magazine of the National Geographic Society that has been published continuously since 1888, ranked Indonesia's Borobudur temple third in its global iconic adventure tourism sites, hence acknowledging the temple's uniqueness as well as cultural and historic value. The Borobudur, a ninth-century Mahayana Buddhist temple, is also listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site (since 1991).
The Indonesian government said it will take immediate action after British cruise ship Caledonian Sky, operated by British-based company Noble Caledonia, seriously damaged part of the coral reefs in Raja Ampat (Papua) in a shipwreck accident that happened on 4 March 2017. Immediate action could include the extradition of the ship's captain back to Indonesia. After the accident the Caledonian Sky sailed further to the Philippines.
Earlier this week it was announced by the Saudi Embassy that King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of Saudi Arabia decided to extend his holiday on Indonesia's island of Bali by three days. After signing 11 agreements on partnerships between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia with regard to various sectors, ranging from security to oil and gas, King Salman - who brought an entourage of 1,500 people to Indonesia - can now enjoy the beauty of Bali, the most popular holiday destination of foreign tourists in Indonesia.
Indonesian authorities are eager to boost the number of tourists in Indonesia, both domestic and foreign tourists, because this will put the nation's economic wheels in motion, create employment opportunities for local communities and, in the case of foreign tourists, will result in rising foreign exchange earnings. In order to absorb a larger flow of tourists the government of Indonesia wants to see the development of more homestay accommodations across the Archipelago.
The Indonesian government wants to increase the role of nautical tourism in the economy. Currently, nautical tourism only contributes 10 percent to the whole tourism industry of Indonesia. However, by 2019 the government wants to see the figure having doubled to 20 percent, or worth roughly USD $4 billion. Expansion should be achieved by expanding the number of tourist destinations across the Indonesian Archipelago. Nautical tourism includes the marina, charter and cruise industries that combine sailing and boating with holiday activities.
The tourism sector of Indonesia has great potential for rapid growth in the years ahead as the government has been eager to boost growth in this sector by allowing more countries to use the visa-free visit facility and by spending more on infrastructure development to enhance inter- and intra-connectivity (including the development of new airports and harbors). Moreover, Indonesia's tourism sector has plenty of opportunity to expand rapidly because this sector comes from a very low base (for example, compared to regional peers, Indonesia attracts relatively few foreign tourists).
Latest Columns Tourism
In Indonesian media it was reported that Sandiaga Uno, who is Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, stated that the country managed to collect a total of USD $10.46 billion in foreign exchange earnings from the tourism industry during the first three quarters of 2023.
Indonesia’s Statistical Agency (Badan Pusat Statistik, or BPS) announced at the start of February 2023 that it had recorded a total of 5.47 million foreign visitor arrivals in full-2022. It means Indonesia managed to achieve its foreign visitor target (quite easily) last year (which was set at the wide range of 1.8 – 3.6 million).
As we have discussed in earlier reports and articles, the tourism industry is among the heaviest affected industries amid the COVID-19 crisis. Travel restrictions (such as mandatory COVID-19 tests and vaccines) and in some cases full travel bans set by governments across the world are discouraging people from traveling.
Governments’ social and business restrictions (imposed in the context of preventing the further spread of COVID-19 in society) and people’s concern over the virus have damaged both the tourism and transportation industry in an unprecedented way.
Those who live in Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta and find themselves frequently stuck in the middle of the city’s grave traffic congestion, while their horizons are being curtailed by the capital’s tall skyscrapers may want to escape this hectic metropolitan by spending a refreshing weekend in Bogor, a city – located some 50 kilometers south of Jakarta – that is particularly known for its Presidential Palace and the botanical gardens (in Indonesian: Kebun Raya Bogor).
Indonesia's largest food and hospitality exhibition, Food & Hotel Indonesia 2019 will kick off its 15th edition on July 24, 2019 at JIExpo Kemayoran Jakarta. Organised by Pamerindo Indonesia, this four-day biannual expo highlights the breakthroughs that are transforming Indonesia's preferences in the new concept of food and hotel industries.
At the 50th anniversary of the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association in mid-February 2019, Indonesian President Joko Widodo emphasized that the tourism industry should become the biggest industry in Indonesia in terms of foreign exchange earnings. Indonesia – a huge Archipelago that consists of more than 17.000 islands – has so much to offer to (foreign) tourists, such as beautiful beaches and countryside, flora & fauna, diving spots, wildlife, culture, culinary, historic relics as well as vibrant city life. However, so far, it fails to tap its full potential.
The tourism industry of Indonesia is one of the most important industries in terms of the nation's foreign exchange earnings. However, compared to its neighboring countries - specifically Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand - Indonesia lags behind in terms of foreign visitor arrivals. This "failure" is partly attributed to the weak state of Indonesia's infrastructure. This includes the lack of enough airports or the lack of enough aircraft and passenger handling capacity at existing airports.
The Indonesian government is looking for big direct investment - both domestic and domestic direct investment - in Indonesia's tourism industry in its quest to turn the tourism industry into the nation's top foreign exchange earner, hence strengthening this industry's role toward the national economy. Therefore, the government formulated ten priority tourist destinations that are regarded to have great tourism potential.
Players in Indonesia's tourism industry are optimistic that more than 15 million foreign tourists will visit Indonesia in full-year 2017. Based on the latest data from Indonesia's Statistics Agency (BPS), a total of 5.36 million foreigners went on holiday in the world's largest Archipelago in the first five months of 2017, up 20.9 percent (y/y) from foreign visitor arrivals in the same period one year earlier.
