TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tourist visitations to Indonesia are forecasted to drop by 12 million at the end of 2020 compared to the previous year as tourist visits are predicted to only attract up to 5 million foreign nationals, which used to be able to attract up to 17 million in 2019.

“We estimate Indonesia’s tourism will experience a 60 percent drop. If the recovery rate is slower than expected, it can drop even further by 80 percent. That is if normal routines do not quickly recover until December 2020,” wrote Candra Negara, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry’s interagency relations in a statement on Monday.

According to him, the government is currently identifying and concocting a strategy to boost the tourism sector during what is dubbed as the “new normal” and boost the national economy.

One of the strategies that will be used relies on international tourists being replaced by domestic tourists as the main source of income in the tourism sector. In its initial stage, the government’s recovery attempts will be focused on hotels and other creative economy sectors such as fashion, culinary, and handicrafts.

“These sub-sectors contribute the most. The tourism and creative economy ministry have also initiated a number of campaigns to entice domestic tourists to travel,” said Candra.

Foreign Affairs Ministry, Director of Europe 1, Ida Bagus Made Bimantara, said that the government is still limiting the entry of international tourists but continues to offer them attractive deals in preparation of reopening the international gates amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Read also: Bali Delays Reopening for International Tourists until End of 2020

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA