Tourism Ministry Aims to Develop Travel Services for the Elderly

The Ministry of Tourism aims to build collaboration with relevant stakeholders to develop tourism services for the elderly in Indonesia. “Considering that many countries currently have ageing populations, such as Japan and the Netherlands, the government is encouraging tourism stakeholders to develop elderly tourism products, or geronto tourism, that have global competitiveness,” said Ministry of Tourism Spokesperson Nia Niscaya in Jakarta on Sunday. “With collaboration between the government, businesses, associations, academics, health workers, and the community, we are optimistic that the development of geronto tourism will open up new economic opportunities and expand the quality tourism market…,” she said. Nia is also optimistic that developing tourism services for the elderly can strengthen Indonesia’s position as a leading destination in the region and the world. She explained that special interest tourism services for the elderly are designed for older people who require travel service arrangements suited to their physical, psychological, and social conditions. Tourism services for the elderly primarily offer accessibility, flexible travel itineraries, and an environment that supports travellers’ health. “To realise this, the Ministry of Tourism is not only focusing on destination development but also building a business ecosystem capable of comprehensively serving the needs of the elderly tourist segment,” Nia said. The Ministry of Tourism is encouraging improvements in service standards and quality, strengthening human resource competencies, and providing elderly-friendly facilities in an effort to deliver safe and comfortable tourism services. Furthermore, the ministry is directing the provision of holistic tour packages that allow travellers to enjoy culture and natural beauty while experiencing wellness services and healthy eating patterns. According to her, the provision of such holistic tour packages enables travellers to enjoy journeys that can benefit their physical, mental, and emotional health. Nia expressed hope that Indonesia will subsequently be known not only for its excellent natural and cultural tourism destinations but also for quality wellness tourism services and services for elderly travellers.