Developing Tourism Potential in Central and Eastern Indonesia – A Focus on Kemenparekraf’s Rakornis
Jakarta, March 14, 2024 – The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/ Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf) is spearheading the enhancement of tourism potential in Central and Eastern Indonesia through strengthened collaboration among stakeholders during the Technical Coordination Meeting (Rakornis) for the Development of Tourism Destinations in Region II on March 4-5, 2024, at the Claro Hotel Makassar, South Sulawesi.
Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/ Head of Tourism Agency (Menparekraf/Kabaparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno stated on Thursday (3/14/2024) that the coordination meeting aims to improve understanding of policies and strategies for developing tourism destinations and creative economy.
“We also aim to strengthen coordination networks and synchronization between the central and regional levels, as well as develop collaborative strategies, methods, and actions in the development of destinations and the creative economy,” stated Minister Sandiaga on Thursday (3/14/2024).
Strategies for National Tourism Development
Deputy of Destination Development and Infrastructure at Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf, Hariyanto, highlighted that 2024 is a crucial year as the final benchmark for achieving the National Medium-Term Development Plan (RPJMN) for the 2020-2024 period and the transition period to the next RPJMN, covering 2025-2029, while also overseeing Indonesia’s achievements through the National Long-Term Development Plan (RPJPN) for 2025.
Based on the Technocratic Draft of RPJMN 2025-2029, the strategy for national tourism development will focus on areas such as Lake Toba, Borobudur, Lombok-Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, Manado-Likupang, Bangka Belitung, Bromo-Tengger-Semeru, Wakatobi, Morotai, Raja Ampat, three Greater areas (Regenerative Bali, Batam-Bintan, and Jakarta), and 1 Economic Superhub IKN.
Enhancing Creative Economy Development
Furthermore, the focus for Creative Economy Development will center on 12 priority regions, including Jakarta, West Java, DI Yogyakarta, East Java, Banten, Central Java, Bali, Riau Islands, East Kalimantan, North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and South Sulawesi.
“In line with the policy direction of the technocratic draft, one of the targets for tourism is the development of quality tourism destinations based on evolving market preferences towards sustainable and regenerative tourism,” explained Hariyanto.
Inspector General at Kemenparekraf/Baparekraf, Bayu Aji, added that the recovery of the tourism and creative economy sectors is gaining momentum post-COVID-19 pandemic, although it has not yet reached pre-pandemic levels. This is evident from data recorded by the Central Statistics Agency (BPS) regarding foreign tourist visits in 2023, totaling around 11.6 million individuals.
“This figure marks a 98.3% increase from the achievement in 2022,” Bayu elaborated.
