"We hope that the labour absorption can improve the community'swelfare," Uno was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
According to him, the tourism workers' absorption has a significant impact onincreasing people's economic income and employment opportunities up to sixtimes.
The ministry aims to generate 1.2 million jobs in the tourism sector and enhance thecommunity’s welfare through various innovations and policies as well as byinvolving stakeholders, Uno added.
The ministry is organising the Indonesian Tourism Village Award which seeks the50 best tourism villages in the country, he said, adding that it intends toencourage local activity and help revive tourist attractions that were affectedby the COVID-19 pandemic.
The official also expressed his optimism that tourist destinations will succeedin luring visitors and contribute to the community's welfare.
Indonesia welcomed 1.73 million foreign tourists in the first eight months of2022, a sharp increase from 81,292 arrivals in the same period last year.
In August 2022 alone, the country received 510,250 foreign travelers, up 6.98%month-on-month and 46% year-on-year. However, the figures were stillsignificantly less than the same period of pre-pandemic in 2019, when Indonesiarecorded about 8 million foreign visitors.
Indonesia's tourism recovery is likely to face stronger headwinds as foreigntourists limit spending in the face of a global recession, experts said.
Speaking to the press on October 3, Uno said that a decline in global economicgrowth will affect Indonesia's tourism sector, but the country can overcomedifficulties thanks to domestic tourists./.