TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, revealed on Tuesday that his ministry has prepared an agenda for the development of sports-based tourism.

"We want to move quickly in realizing several agenda related to the tight enforcement of health protocols, as well as some quick wins we may actualize in sports tourism," Uno said at a press conference in Jakarta, after a meeting with Minister of Youth and Sports, Zainudin Amali.

Sports organizations, such as those holding marathons, triathlons, and golf tournaments, have committed to organizing sports events in some priority tourist destinations across the country, including North Sumatra's Lake Toba and East Nusa Tenggara's Labuan Bajo, he informed.

Piloting this agenda, he added, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy would be focusing on events they can manage in the next three months, which may be adjusted according to the current COVID outbreak's dynamics.

"We will also organize the cooperation framework, as we implement the authorization from the Minister of Sports. We hope this will revive people's economic activities," Uno said.

Meanwhile, Minister Amali has welcomed the plan, saying Indonesia has a huge tourism potential, which could be developed through sports events.

"We should encourage this sports tourism as Indonesia is a very nice place, where many people come to enjoy sports tourism," Amali remarked.

The two ministries had inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the development of the sports and tourism industry in September, 2020, along with the Ministry of Industry. The MoU is intended to improve the national economy, particularly through the development of the sports industry.

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