Tourism Ministry to Persuade 7M Indonesians to Skip Overseas Travel

KOMPAS.com – Last year, between 6-7 million Indonesian tourists traveled overseas and Indonesia’s tourism industry is looking to harness their spending power.

Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Wishnutama Kusubandio stated in a virtual press conference that the number of Indonesians traveling abroad offers potential for the national tourism industry as it means they are able to spend millions of US dollars.

The average outbound flights for the country’s travelers included destinations to Penang in Malaysia, Singapore, the United States, and Europe.

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Although the coronavirus pandemic has hit Indonesia’s tourism industry particularly hard, it has also presented industry players the opportunity to harness the tourists that would otherwise travel overseas.

“Let us not be desperate. Their [Indonesian tourists] spending power is massive. Let us altogether find a way to make use of this potential and encourage them to visit Indonesia.”

Increasing Indonesian destinations

Wishnutama suggested that Indonesia’s airlines industry adjust its focus to include inbound travelers or those who travel domestically.

“I would like to remind you all that our strategic aviation vision focuses on inbound not outbound. Unfortunately, what I have seen is that Indonesian airlines are motivated to offering outbound flights.”

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