ER
INDONESIAN (RI) Tourism Minister, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana made an overseas working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), inviting investors from that country to increase investment in Indonesia’s increasingly promising tourism sector.
During her working visit, Widiyanti held a bilateral meeting with the UAE Minister of Economy, Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri. She also met with Nirvana Travel & Tourism, Haliburg Group and Etihad Airways in Abu Dhabi, UAE on Saturday (11/23), 2024.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Tourism promoted a number of destinations in Indonesia that can be visited by UAE tourists, and invited investors in the UAE to invest more in Indonesia’s increasingly favorable and promising tourism sector.
“During a working visit to Abu Dhabi, UAE, I witnessed first-hand the great potential of tourists from the UAE to Indonesia. In 2023, the realization of investment in the tourism sector from the UAE to Indonesia has increased quite significantly,” said Widiyanti.
In her meeting with UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, Tourism Minister Widiyanti discussed various opportunities and efforts to strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector, including destination promotion and strategic investments.
“I am optimistic that this collaboration will further strengthen tourism cooperation for Indonesia and the UAE in the future,” she said.
In her meeting with Nirvana Travel & Tourism and also the Haliburg Group, the Minister of Tourism said that there has been a surge in UAE investment figures in Indonesia in 2023.
This figure is almost 6 times higher than in 2022, which was US$3.4 million, with the top business sectors being restaurants, travel agency activities, and star hotels. For the realization in 2024, it has been recorded at US$1.8 million with the same profile and scope.
“This means that in the last three years, investments in the UAE have reached US$5.66 million. Providing further opportunities for UAE investors to expand their portfolios,” Widiyanti affirmed.
Minister Widiyanti said that tourism, as one of the leading sectors supporting the Indonesian economy, is also a major contributor to the realization of national investment in 2023.
Therefore, I invite investors not to hesitate to invest in Indonesia, especially in the five Super Priority Tourism Destinations (DPSP) and ten Special Economic Zones (KEK) for tourism.
“These five DPSPs are iconic locations that represent the best our country has to offer and are a priority for further development. From infrastructure development to event organization and increased promotion, these areas are poised for development in tourism, hospitality and supporting industries. Each destination is a unique blend of culture, natural beauty and untapped potential, offering unparalleled opportunities to create world-class experiences while driving economic growth,” she said.
Meanwhile, the ten tourism KEKs are Morotai, Kura-Kura, Sanur, Singhasari, Tanjung Lesung, Lido, Tanjung Kelayang, Nongsa, Likupang and Mandalika.
“All of these initiatives reflect a country that is not only open for business, but also ready to partner with investors to build a prosperous future,” Widiyanti underlined.
Indonesia has also made extraordinary progress in creating a world-class investment climate. Indonesia has achieved a BBB+ credit rating, reflecting global confidence in stable macroeconomic conditions and the continued stability of the financial system.
The government has also supported investment through various policies and regulations, including the Risk-Based Approach and the Single Online Submission (OSS) system.
In her meeting with Etihad Airways, Widiyanti also discussed the potential for cooperation in the tourism sector, especially in promotional activities such as organizing trips for travel agents/tour operators to Indonesia.
For example, by inviting Key Opinion Leaders (KOL) or well-known tour operators to Indonesia, where Etihad will cover international tickets and the Ministry of Tourism can support accommodation, transportation and meals while in Indonesia.
“In the future, I also hope that Etihad Airways and the Ministry of Tourism can establish a joint Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in promoting Indonesian tourism,” she elaborated.
During a working visit to Abu Dhabi, UAE, Tourism Minister Widiyanti also inspected Rempah Indonesian Restaurant, a restaurant serving typical Indonesian food. [traveltext.id]
