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THE INDONESIAN government in 2023 targets 1.2 billion to 1.4 billion Indonesian tourists to travel to various interesting tourist objects in the country. Such a target is twice the achievement in 2022 through the implementation of the National Movement for Proud to Make Indonesian/Domestic Products (Gernas BBI/PDN) and Proud to Travel in Indonesia (BBWI).
With the travel of the Indonesian population visiting as many tourist attractions, it is expected to generate tourism revenue worth IDR3,281 trillion or equivalent to 18% of nominal GDP.
The hope is that with the many trips of domestic tourists traveling to various interesting tourist objects, which are thousands scattered across the archipelago, it will not only be able to drive the economy of the community/Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and local governments, but all related parties, ranging from travel agents, land, sea and air transportation companies, hotels, even to tour guides.
The target and hope were conveyed by Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut B. Panjaitan, when attending the kickofff of the National Movement of Proud to Make Indonesian/Domestic Products (Gernas BBI/PDN) and Proud to Travel in Indonesia (BBWI) in Banten, Friday (02/10), 2023.
It is recognized that it is not easy to achieve such a large target. Apart from the fact that the economy and people’s income have not really recovered due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, there is still a mindset of some people who prefer to travel abroad.
Nevertheless, it is not impossible and impossible for the achievement of 1.2 billion to 1.4 billion domestic tourist trips to be achieved and even exceed the target, considering that besides the current pandemic has subsided, plus the government is assisted by associations, the private sector, and other stakeholders working together in various ways to achieve the target.
In addition, the government has also massively and continues to build and improve various types of infrastructure, ranging from highways, toll roads, airports, seaports, bus terminals, to repairing/improving tourist attractions, so that they are comfortable and safe when used or visited.
One of the efforts made by the association and the private sector in capturing the target of 1.2 billion to 1.4 billion domestic tourist trips was carried out by the National Airline Association (Inaca) and RajaMICE and Chief Community TEPANAS (Teman Parekraf Nasional) which intensified tourism promotion through the 20th Indonesia Travel Fair (ITF) at Kota Kasablanka Mall, Jakarta, on February 17-19, 2023.
ITF offers promo packages and attractive prizes every day through special prices for flights throughout Indonesia provided by various airlines supporting national tourism, namely Garuda Indonesia, Pelita Air, Citilink, Lion Air Group, TransNusa, AirAsia, Sriwijaya and NAM Air.
In addition to airlines, other stakeholders coming from the tourism industry also jointly provide special prices during the exhibition, namely from Artotel Group, Cross Bali, Tanjung Lesung Resort, Taman Safari Indonesia Group and ADWI Winner Tourism Villages, such as Glodok Chinatown Tourism Village, Setu Babakan Betawi Cultural Village, Untung Java Island Tourism Village. Travel agencies such as Bayu Buana, Dwidaya Tour, Obaja, TX Travel, Dream Well, Mister Aladin, and Atourin also joined.
People who want to travel can enjoy a choice of special ticket prices from Pelita Air, starting at IDR500 thousand, Citilink starting at IDR530 thousand; Garuda Indonesia with round-trip tickets from Jakarta starting at IDR2.4 million; TransNusa starting at IDR499 thousand; AirAsia starting at IDR450 thousand.
Other tourism industries, such as Artotel Group provides overnight packages starting from IDR270 thousand; Cross Bali provides packages starting from IDR2 million; Taman Safari Indonesia Group provides special entrance prices starting from IDR35 thousand and overnight packages starting from IDR780 thousand.
The collaboration between the association and the private sector by involving all stakeholders engaged in the tourism sector like this is what we should appreciate and continue to support. Because it is impossible for only the government to continue and all those who carry out promotions and campaigns without full support from all tourism stakeholders.
As conveyed by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno who always expressed his appreciation to all tourism industries and actors who support and try to succeed government programs.
“We hope that the collaboration of all parties in the 20th ITF will be an early-year booster for the BBWI program to achieve the target of 1.4 billion domestic tourist movements,” he said.
The government believes that the movement of domestic tourists will also have an economic impact on the community and MSMEs. In the momentum of ASEAN chairmanship in Indonesia, this Travel Fair activity and other similar exhibitions can be a means as a promo program to attract public attention in supporting the travel program in IndonesiaAja.
Full support from the domestic tourism industry also came from Deputy Chairman of the MPR RI Lestari Moerdijat who asked tourism players to increase creativity in attracting tourist interest, especially from within the country, to visit tourist attractions, among others by presenting a variety of interesting tourism activities.
Especially in the current conditions, all parties are required to increase the creativity of tourism actors in the country to organize interesting activities, by involving the creative industry in several regions. This is important to do amid the impact of the global recession which has the potential to reduce the number of foreign tourists to Indonesia.
Stakeholders, both at the central and regional levels, must also support increased creativity in developing tourism activities by presenting policies that make it easier.
Nevertheless, it is reminded that the Government in formulating the policy still prioritizes safety and health aspects.
Once again, the collaboration of all parties in seeking the growth of the national tourism sector must be realized in an effort to answer a number of challenges caused by the global recession. Local governments must also be required to be creative, proactive, and have clear and directed programs in stimulating the tourism sector in their regions, because then the Indonesian people will want to travel to their regions, of course, by continuing to carry out vigorous promotion. [antaranews]
