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THE INDONESIA’S Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy explored the potential for expanding cooperation in the tourism and creative economy between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia in a virtual meeting with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Sheikh Essam bin Abed Al-Thaqafi, Tuesday (7/13).
According to the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno said, I hope that the potential and opportunities for expanding this cooperation will strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries, especially in the tourism and creative economy sectors.
“I am very optimistic that after this pandemic we can produce cooperation and collaborate with each other in developing tourism and the creative economy in both countries. And can help promote and present quality and sustainable tourism,” said Sandiaga.
The cooperation, he continued that opportunities include holding an internship program for 6 State Tourism Universities under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy to Saudi Arabia and asking for Indonesia’s support in efforts to move the World Tourism Organization (WTO) headquarters from Madrid to Riyadh.
Sandiaga explained that this cooperation opportunity is expected to be a follow-up to the umbrella agreement in the tourism sector and the creative economy. This is because there is currently no MoU and active cooperation agreement in the creative economy sector between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.
“The latest draft of the tourism MoU between the two countries was received by the Indonesian side in 2019 and is still in the review process before being signed. For now, there is no MoU and active cooperation agreement in the creative economy sector,” he underlined.
Furthermore, Minister Sandiaga also said that he would support the relocation of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) headquarters from Madrid to Riyadh. I will support the relocation of the WTO office, of course in coordination with colleagues at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On the same occasion, the Deputy for Resources and Institutions of the Tourism Ministry, Wisnu B. Tarunajaya, expressed his hope that students at 6 State Tourism Universities under the auspices of the Tourism Ministry could get the opportunity to do internships in Saudi Arabia.
“To improve the tourism sector again, quality human resources are needed. In order to prepare human resources with the best abilities, we want our students at the six institutions under our auspices to be able to learn a lot about tourism in Saudi Arabia,” Wisnu B. Tarunajaya added.
Likewise, the Deputy for Marketing at the Ministry of Tourism, Nia Niscaya, hopes that in the future there will also be opportunities for collaboration on promotional and marketing policy exchange programs such as the exchange of facilities for conducting sales mission activities in the tourism sector and the creative economy in Saudi Arabia.
“So, we can exchange information in cross culture programs about their respective cultures, both Indonesia and Saudi Arabia. Learn about making handicrafts in Bali, for example. And vice versa, we also want to gain knowledge about hospitality industries and tourism in Saudi Arabia,” Nia Niscaya noted.
Meanwhile, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Sheikh Essam bin Abed Al-Thaqafi, asked for Indonesia’s support in moving the World Tourism Organization (WTO) headquarters from Madrid to Riyadh.
“I ask for Indonesia’s support in the effort to move the WTO office to Riyadh. Those Saudi Arabian tourists really like Bali as a tourist destination. Because Bali has many beautiful beaches. For that, Indonesia is very in line with the interests of Saudi Arabian tourists,” he said
Sheikh Essam bin Abed Al-Thaqafi added that Bali is very popular with the citizens of Saudi Arabia. Hopefully, as a follow-up to our discussion this time, we can hold a virtual meeting to discuss in more detail. And I hope this cooperation opportunity can be stated in a memorandum of understanding. [traveltext.id]
