TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) has encouraged Japanese investors to diversify their investment into the tourism sector, especially in hotels and restaurants.

"The hotel and restaurant sector has its own market. The number of Japanese holidaymakers visiting the country has increased sharply," Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Franky Sibarani said Thursday.

Moreover, the government planned to open up foreign ownership restrictions in the tourism sector through the revision of Presidential Decree (Perpres) No. 39 in 2014 on List of Business Fields Closed and Business Fields Open with Conditions to Investment.

"The tourism sector will be opened. Indonesia has offered visa-free travel to 40 countries including Japan," he said.

The realization of investment increased 48.9 percent worth Rp49.6 trillion, Sibarani remarked.

"Hotel and restaurant business areas increased 69.9 percent or Rp12.1 trillion in 2015 as compared to 2014 which recorded Rp7.3 trillion," he stated.

With the revision of the regulation, Japanese investors could open a restaurant or cafe in Indonesia in accordance with the taste of the Japanese people to make Japanese tourists to feel more comfortable in Indonesia.

Based on data from BKPM, the Japanese investment in the hotel and restaurant sector in 2015 amounted to Rp175 billion or increase by 95 percent compared to 2014 Rp89 billion.

However, the number is still small compared to the total investment in the hotel and restaurant business, which reached Rp12.1 trillion.

In terms of realization of the investment based on the country of origin for the period 2010-2015, Japan ranked in second place, while, Singapore ranked first with a value of US$31 billion.

The United States ranked third with an investment of $8.2 billion, followed by South Korea with an investment of $8 billion, and Malaysia with an investment of $7.1 billion.

ANTARA