TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) has stated that Indonesia and the Philippines can take advantage of vast opportunities in the tourism sector by working together to offer tourism packages for both countries.

"Actually, both countries want to promote their tourism, and of course they want to attract more tourists. Maybe cooperation can be carried out through offering tourism packages," said Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Deputy Chairperson for International Relations Shinta Widjaja Kamdani in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Shinta explained that the two countries could work together to attract tourists from third countries, such as America, Europe and other countries, by offering tourism packages for the Philippines and Indonesia.

"In terms of tourists, of course we want to attract more tourists from the Philippines, but we are also working together to attract tourists from third countries through tourism packages for the two countries," she said.

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"What is most likely is tourism, because the two countries both want to prioritize the tourism sector, both the Philippines and Indonesia. Instead of competing, we should see what opportunities can be jointly worked on, because tourism players from both countries are very large," Shinta said.

"If I look at the investment opportunities, so I feel that there are Philippine companies that want to invest more in the tourism sector. This is the opportunities we can take advantage of," she said.

Previously, Chairman of the Philippine Business Club Indonesia Antonio Capati said the tourism sector was a business opportunity that could be worked on jointly by Indonesian and Filipino entrepreneurs.

According to Antonio, the collaboration can also improve the tourism sector, providing opportunities for hotels.

ANTARA