Indonesia: Tourism continues suffering in January

The number of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia in January still suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic and declined by 89.05 percent compared to the same month of last year, the country’s statistics bureau (BPS) reported.
Jakarta (VNA) – The number of foreign touristvisits to Indonesia in January still suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic anddeclined by 89.05 percent compared to the same month of last year, thecountry’s statistics bureau (BPS) reported.

The arrival numbers lowered from 1.29 million in January2020 to 141,260 in the first month of this year.

Compared with last December, the number of visitorsdecreased by 13.9 percent. The room occupancy rate of star-classified hotels inIndonesia was also down 30.35 percent compared to 49.17 percent recorded a yearago and 10.44 percent from the previous month.

Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative EconomySandiaga Salahuddin Uno said the country targets welcoming around seven millionforeigners this year. To this end, the ministry will focus on completing thedevelopment of five super priority destinations, like Lake Toba in NorthSumatera, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in Lombok, Labuan Bajo in EastNusa Tenggara, and Likupang in North Sulawesi.

The ministry will strengthen the 3A (Attractions,Amenities and Accessibility) tourism facilities, encourage investment in thetourism sector, and increase tourism promotion by optimally utilizing digitaltechnology, Uno said. It will also implement three strategies namelyinnovation, adaptation, and collaboration.

Vice Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy AngelaTanoesoedibjo, meanwhile, said the innovation strategy will include the use ofbig data to design more effective and personal promotions. Her office will alsoinnovate the products offered, such as outdoor tourism, sport tourism, healthtourism, wellness tourism, and ecotourism.

The second strategy is adapting CHSE-based health protocols(cleanliness, health, safety, and environment) in each tourism destination andcreative economy line. This CHSE-based protocols will be the key toaccelerating the recovery of tourist confidence amid the pandemic.

Additionally, the country will develop e-HAC(electronic-Health Alert Card) together with health ministry andtelecommunications service providers, so that later they do not only record thevisits but also monitor movements./.
VNA

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