TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The government has decided to set a 50 percent discount of flight tickets as the incentive to boost the tourism industry following the recent downturn caused by the coronavirus or Covid-19 outbreak.

"The benefit for passengers of low-cost carriers is a 50 percent discount [of flight ticket]," said the Air Transportation Director-General of the Transportation Ministry Novie Riyanto in Central Jakarta on Tuesday, February 25, 2020.

Meanwhile, passengers of middle-class scheduled commercial transportation will get a 48 percent discount and those of full-service airlines will be able to enjoy a 45 percent discount.

Novie explained that the discount will be available for 25 percent of the total airline seats and valid every day for three months starting March to May 2020.

However, the direct subsidies was designated for only 10 tourist destinations that greatly affected by the China virus in a bid to push domestic tourism, namely Batam, Bali, Yogyakarta, Malang, Manado, Silangit, Tanjung Pandan, Tanjung Pinang, Labuan Bajo, and Lombok.

The government had held several meetings on the provision of tourism incentives. From the total stimulus budget, the air transportation sector received 30 percent or equals to IDR 910 billion.

The incentive was channeled from the State Budget (APBN) with a total value of IDR 550 billion, from state-owned airport operators AP I, AP II, and state-owned air navigation firm AirNav with a total value of IDR 100 billion, as well as the discounted jet fuel from state-owned oil and gas firm Pertamina with a total value of IDR 260 billion.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA