House Commission VII Urges Ministry of Tourism to Map Regional Tourism Growth

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VII has requested the Ministry of Tourism to map the tourism growth of neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia to strengthen the nation’s tourism sector.

“I hope that in the next meeting, what is presented by the Minister also includes the condition of our competitors in neighbouring countries, so that we have a clear measure of what we are aiming for with the existing budget,” said Novita Hardini, a member of Commission VII, during a working meeting with the Ministry of Tourism at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Wednesday.

These comments were made in response to concerns that Vietnam’s tourism sector is outpacing Indonesia, particularly regarding the development of new destinations. Novita urged the Ministry of Tourism to remain vigilant, as this issue impacts Indonesia’s standing both regionally in Southeast Asia and on the global stage.

According to Novita, the mapping of tourism growth must be balanced with the strategic use of budgets to address specific challenges. She also noted that the Ministry needs to intensify tourism promotion and improve connectivity to various tourist destinations.

Novita suggested that enhancing air connectivity would not only attract more international tourists but also help mitigate the issue of overtourism. “Our overtourism is concentrated only in areas where air connectivity is already available, meaning that in our current economic condition, the tourism sector remains a major hope for economic growth,” she stated.

Lamhot Sinaga, Deputy Chairman of Commission VII, suggested during the meeting that the Ministry of Tourism should address this by conducting data comparisons from 2024 and 2025 to ensure the growth rate of Indonesia’s tourism sector is monitored. He agreed that Indonesia’s tourism sector requires more specific development to avoid falling behind other Southeast Asian nations.

“We need data to determine whether the current growth rate, compared to 2024-2025 and other countries, shows growth or is merely approaching them,” said Lamhot.

Additionally, he suggested that the Ministry of Tourism needs to intensify coordination with InJourney to improve air connectivity to various regional destinations, making it easier for tourists to visit.