Minister: Economic Development Creates New Tourism Destinations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Mari Elka Pangestu said that programs in the Master Plan for Acceleration and Expansion of Indonesian Economic Development (MP3EI) can boost tourism sector in Indonesia.

Several newly built infrastructures, she said, can create new tourism destinations.

She added that one of the concrete impacts of the programs for the tourism sector is found in Corridor Five (Bali and Nusa Tenggara), which is designated as the tourism corridor.

"However, we hope that the development of Corridor Five is not only in Bali, but in other regions as well,” she said in Jakarta, September 5, 2014.

Previously, she said that, many investors have been discouraged to build infrastructures in Lombok. However, she said that basic infrastructures such as an airport and roads have been built.

In the meantime, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Chairul Tanjung in his report said that since it was launched three years ago, MP3EI programs have brought a number of results.

As of August 2014, he said, at least 383 projects have had their groundbreaking with the total investment value reaching Rp863.5 trillion.

Nonetheless, Mari said that although the programs have boosted the growth of tourism sector in the country, she declined to mention the target of tourism growth.

"What matter is that the 10 percent growth can be maintained,” she said.

Regarding the next government, Mari said that the Ministry has prepared 88 regions that have been identified as strategic tourism zones. In addition, she said that the Ministry has also identified 25 strategic regions to be prioritized until 2025.

FAIZ NASHRILLAH