The Indonesian government has unveiled its three-stage recovery plan to build a more resilient tourism industry post-Covid.
Speaking at the Global Tourism Forum last week, Rizki Handayani, deputy of tourism product and MICE at the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (MoTCE), said in the first stage of recovery (2021 to 2022), the focus will be on spurring domestic tourism and accelerating digital transformation within the sector, while ensuring that the CHSE (Cleanliness, Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability) protocols are being implemented across destinations.
The ministry will also focus on establishing travel bubble arrangements, and work with related government agencies to prepare for the gradual reopening of destinations across the country, particularly Bali.
To pave the way for Bali’s reopening, Teuku Faizasyah, director general of information and public diplomacy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that his office would help MoTCE analyse potential source markets and keep international travellers updated of the Covid-safe measures in place at tourist destinations.
Budi Tirtawisata, CEO of Panorama Group, urged the government to ease entry requirements for international travellers, including exempting them from quarantine if they test negative for Covid-19.
In the second phase of the recovery programme, from 2022 to 2024, MoTCE will aggressively promote tourism villages as it projects that community-based tourism will shine in the post-Covid era, said Rizki.
During this recovery stage, the government will focus on boosting the sector’s resilience, through stimulus funding to support the digitisation of tourism villages and development of creative hubs, as well as facilitating collaboration between e-commerce players and banks for capital assistance.
Rizki expects that the growth and acceleration phase will take place from 2024 to 2029. During this stage, the government will strengthen quality tourism and the destination resilience, promote wellness and adventure products, intensify marketing campaigns, speed up digital transformation, as well as strengthen the supply and value chains of the industry.
