TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The sluggish global economy growth provides an opportunity for Indonesia to increase export revenue in medium-term by improving the country's tourism sector, according to World Bank's Practice Manager for Macroeconomic and Fiscal Management in the region of Southeast Asia Pacific Ndiame Diop
Diop asserted that Indonesia's tourism sector has the potential attract foreign investments.
"Indonesia has the potential to develop a world class tourism industry. But in order to achieve the goals of the tourism industry, there needs to be more infrastructure establishments, which would need a better coordination between state institutions and the private sector," Diop said during the opening of the "Indonesia Economic Quarterly" event held in Jakarta on Tuesday, October 25, 2016.
Previously, the Indonesian Tourism Ministry had set a target to attract US$10 Billion worth of foreign investments to develop 10 tourism destinations in 2019. Diop explained that according to the World Travel and Tourism Council, every US$1 million spent on travelling in Indonesia would be enough to fund 200 jobs.
Diop however, stated that it would require more efforts in order to achieve the target, "such as simplifying licensing processes, revising on the negative investment list [to exclude] ecotourism facilities, spa, and travel agents."
Diop also said that it would require extensive promotion efforts to attract investments in the tourism sector.
RICHARD ANDIKA | EZ
