Government Sets a Target of 20 Million Foreign Tourists by 2019

President Jokowi is shaking hands with regional heads participating at the 2018 National Coordination Meeting on Inflation Control in Jakarta, Thursday (26/7) (Picture: PR/Jay)

President Joko ‘Jokowi’ Widodo said that since tourism sector generates foreign exchange, this sector must be given ample opportunities to attract investment particulary for regions that have received serious attention from domestic as well as foreign tourists.

“I have talked about the 10 New Bali but our focus now is to develop several areas first, such as Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara, Borobudur in Central Java, and Toba Lake in North Sumatera,” the President said when delivering his remarks at the 2018 National Coordination Meeting on Inflation Control, in Grand Sahid Jaya, Jakarta, Thursday (26/7).

The Government has set a target for Ministry of Tourism to attract 20 million foreign tourists. The target is a leap from the previous figure, 9 million tourists.

Talking about inflation, on that occasion, the President said that the current inflation rate is good, but next year it is expected to be lower. Therefore, President Jokowi asked Regional Heads, Governors, Regents, Mayors to pay attention to food supply. They must know what the problems are, whether the supply, distribution, or infrastructure. They are expected to be active in monitoring the real situation so the stability of the price can be maintained.

“If economic growth is 5 percent but nflation rate is 9 percent, it is not good for the people; people will feel the growth of the economy if, for example, the growth rate is 7 percent, whereas inflation rate is 2 percent, or the growth rate is 6 percent and inflation rate is 1.5 percent,” the Presiden said. When all parties understand this, it will be easier to depress food prices which currently is at 4.47 percent.

Regarding interregion trade, the President asked to carefully check which provinces have more stocks or less stocks so they can complete each other’s supply. “It is often happen a region produces more goods than the others but they don’t communicate. Thus, inflation rate in one region is high, and in another region there is oversupply. This condition must be avoided,” the President said.

In the meantime, according to President Jokowi, the existence of wholesale markets can reduce transportation cost. If there is a plan to build a wholesale market, for example, for rice, it is better to build it in every rice-producing provinces.

Concluding his remarks, the President conveyed the importance of economic growth and inflation control. These two issues should be the focus of every region’s management.

Also accompanying the President on that occasion were Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for the Economy Darmin Nasution, Minister of Home Affairs Tjahjo Kumolo, Minister of Tourism Arief Yahya, Deputy Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Archandra Tahar and Governor of Bank Indonesia Perry Warjiyo. (DID/EN) (MMB/YM/Naster)