TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said the government planned to build halal parks in several areas. One of the parks will be constructed at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (GBK) Senayan, Jakarta, as previously stated by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.

“And indeed, we need such centers, from Korea, Japan, and others,” said Arief after a discussion themed "CEOs' Commitment to Indonesia's Tourism" at Tempo's office, Jakarta, on Monday, April 15.

Arief explained many foreign business players were into developing halal parks in the country. He said this was because Indonesians' lack of sensitivity toward halal issues.

Read: Indonesia Aims at Ranking First in Global Halal Tourism

“Indonesian people think they are already into halal, so they don’t think to create one [halal center],” the minister added. Therefore, he would encourage people to open up centers for halal products, such as halal parks and halal centers.

The idea of halal parks was initiated by Jokowi during the final round of the presidential election debate last Saturday, April 13. The incumbent candidate said the government was determined to develop halal products to continue the success of halal tourism.

Indonesia is named as the world's top halal tourist destination by The MasterCard-CrescentRating in its 2019 Global Muslim Travel Index.

“We will launch a halal park in Jakarta and will develop it into a district as our opportunity to introduce our halal products,” said Jokowi.

Vice presidential candidate number 01 Ma’ruf Amin said that Indonesia had long developed sharia economy and finance, as well as halal products. Thus, many achievements had been met relative to the country’s halal industry, he added.

CAESAR AKBAR