TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno predicted that 2.5 million foreign tourists would visit the country by the end of 2022. This figure is within the target range set by the ministry of 1.8 million to 3.6 million people.

The prediction is calculated from the movement trend of foreign tourists in the first half of 2022. From January to July 2022, the country recorded 1.2 million foreign arrivals. “It is targeted to be doubled next year,” said Sandiaga in an interview with Tempo on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.

Statistics Indonesia (BPS) recorded 477,000 foreign tourist visits as of July 2022, the highest number since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is up by 38.08 percent from the previous month and by 6,398.46 percent year on year.

The positive trend will also be supported by G20 Summit in Bali in November. The international agenda, he added, will likely bring 40,000-50,000 foreign tourists.

With the projected 2.5 million foreign tourists by the end of the year, the country’s foreign exchange will possibly reach US$500 million up to US$1.7 billion. Not to mention the contribution from the creative economy sector.

“This is predicted foreign exchange from the tourism sector which has 13 sub-sectors. The creative economy has 17 sub-sectors. We measure it from the contribution to GDP (gross domestic product) which amounts to Rp1,300 trillion,” said Sandiaga.

Based on Indonesia's Balance of Payments report released by Bank Indonesia as of August 2022, the foreign exchange reached US$1.84 billion until the first half of 2022. “Tourism contributes 4.5 percent to the economy, to our GDP. The creative economy’s contribution is already above 7.5 percent, so it's 12 percent in total,” said Sandiaga Uno.

ARRIJAL RACHMAN

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