House Commission VII: School Holidays Should Strengthen National Tourism

Deputy Chairman of House Commission VII, Chusnunia, stated that the school holiday period should be a momentum to strengthen national tourism in order to boost local economic activity. She urged the government to thoroughly prepare existing destinations to ensure tourist safety and comfort, while revitalising the economic turnover for local MSMEs.

“The school holiday is one of the most anticipated moments in Indonesia’s tourism economic calendar. Not only because millions of families start planning trips, but because its impact is directly felt at the grassroots economic level,” Chusnunia said in Jakarta on Friday.

She assessed that the school holiday period differs from national holidays, which tend to be short. School holidays, she noted, are longer and encourage families to undertake more planned trips with greater expenditure.

According to her, the domestic market is the backbone of the tourism industry, long before foreign tourists enter the equation. Therefore, she called on MSMEs and local businesses to be astute in reading opportunities.

“The surge in mobility certainly does not only occur at tourist attractions, but also benefits the local economy through culinary businesses, souvenirs, and accommodation,” she said.

Furthermore, she assessed that the school holiday period is not only an opportunity to increase tourist visits, but also a chance to demonstrate the quality of destination management in realising quality and sustainable Indonesian tourism.

“We must collectively and actively encourage the exploration of nearby destinations that can still provide memorable experiences, so that tourist interest also spreads to secondary cities with authentic natural and cultural tourism potential,” she said.