Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has now been separated into two new ministries under president Prabowo Subianto’s Red and White Cabinet, and marks the nation’s commitment to fostering its tourism sector.
Just hours after Prabowo took the oath on Sunday, Widiyanti Putri Wardhana, chief operating officer of Teladan Resources, was appointed as the new minister of tourism. This role was previously combined with the creative economy and led by Sandiaga Uno.
Widiyanti Putri Wardhana is an entrepreneur with diverse interests in industries such as agro-resources, energy, oil and gas technology, strategic properties, and media. A graduate of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, she also serves as the secretary-general of the Indonesian Heart Foundation.
Prabowo also announced Ni Luh Ernik Ermawati as the deputy minister of tourism. Known as a television presenter, Ni Luh will support Widiyanti in developing tourism in Indonesia.
The inauguration earlier today included the line-up of 109 ministers, deputy ministers, and heads of state institutions. The first cabinet meeting will be held tomorrow, where the president will outline the duties and objectives of each ministry for the next five years.
From 2014 to 2019, Indonesia had a single Ministry of Tourism. In the second term of then-president Joko Widodo’s government, tourism was integrated into the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy.
Prabowo views tourism as a key pillar of Indonesia’s future economy, requiring dedicated focus and a stand-alone ministry. This separation aims not only to unlock the full potential of the tourism sector but also to support the goal of achieving an economic growth target of eight per cent, up from the current five per cent.
