DPR Urges Tourism Development to Become a Cross-Sector National Programme
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Chairman of Commission VII of the DPR RI, Evita Nursanty, has urged the development of tourism to become a cross-sector national programme in order to strengthen Indonesia’s competitiveness amidst the fierce competition in the regional tourism industry.
In a statement in Jakarta on Thursday, Evita stated that various programmes implemented by the government demonstrate a commitment to advancing the tourism sector.
However, according to her, the development of tourist destinations cannot be solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Tourism, as it requires support from sectors such as transportation, infrastructure, investment, and promotion.
She highlighted Indonesia’s foreign tourist arrival figures, which currently stand at 4.68 million. This number is still lower compared to other countries in the region, such as Japan, which received more than 14 million tourists, Thailand with around 11 million tourists, and Vietnam with nearly 9 million tourists during the same period.
According to Evita, the government needs to identify the obstacles that are hindering the growth of Indonesian tourism compared to these countries, starting from flight connectivity, visa policies, investment, and inter-agency coordination.
“Is the problem connectivity, visa issues, investment, promotion, or is it the lack of optimal cross-sector coordination?” she asked.
In addition, Evita supports the government’s efforts to develop Super Priority Tourist Destinations (DPSP) as a strategy to reduce dependence on Bali, which has so far contributed around 45-50 percent of foreign tourist arrivals.
“That is why the government formed and designed the DPSP, because for years, 45 to 50 percent of our foreign tourists have been concentrated in Bali,” she said.
“We must ensure that the DPSP not only succeeds in building infrastructure but also in attracting tourists,” she added.
Evita also supports the government’s efforts to maintain a balance between environmental conservation, tourist safety, and the economic interests of local communities in tourist destinations. According to her, environmental preservation policies must go hand in hand with efforts to improve the welfare of local businesses and MSMEs.
“I strongly agree, 100 percent agree, that conservation and tourist safety are non-negotiable,” she said.
She emphasized that the success of national tourism requires synergy from all stakeholders.
“If there are no planes, how can we advance tourism? If the infrastructure is not built, how can we progress? So, this must be a national movement. It cannot be a sectoral movement,” said Evita.