TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourism Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio said the Rp27 billion budget would not merely be used to pay influencers but also to fund other programs. At least 15 foreign influencers will be invited to promote Indonesian tourism abroad.

However, he has yet to announce any names. "We'll discuss it tonight," Wishnutama said at the National Library, Saturday, Feb. 29, elaborating that the meeting will determine the names of the foreign influencers, as well as to discuss the market target in detail.

Previously, the minister explained that this program is part of strategies in bolstering tourism. He said that the influencers that will be involved in the program are coming from the targetted countries of Indonesian tourism promotion.

"We will hire influencers from target countries who also have a high engagement for the market in their countries," Wishnutama said.

The government reportedly allocated a budget of Rp72 billion for the tourism promotion, and the cost of hiring influencers was set under 10 percent of the budget. This was part of the incentives totaling Rp298.5 billion to anticipate the coronavirus impact on the country’s economic growth.

According to the Coordinating Minister for Economy Airlangga Hartarto, the government would disburse nearly Rp10 trillion to suppress the impact of the coronavirus on Indonesia’s economy.

The fund would be disbursed through several policies, starting from pre-employment card program, the budget hike in Family Hope Program (PKH), housing and tourism incentives, the discount of avtur or jet fuel, the subsidy of flight tickets, up to the tax removal for hotel and restaurants in ten tourist destinations.

FRISKI RIANA | Eko Wahyudi