Jakarta - Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana emphasized that the tourism sector can be a national economic defense tool in facing external pressure due to trade tariff policies from the United States (US).
This statement is in response to the 'Reciprocal Tariff' policy implemented by US President Donald Trump on imported products from a number of countries, including Indonesia.
According to Widiyanti in her statement in Jakarta, Saturday, when exports of goods were subject to high tariffs, Indonesia was able to optimize the enormous potential of the tourism sector as a major source of foreign exchange that was free from trade barriers.
"By attracting more foreign tourists, we can maintain the stability of the rupiah and foreign exchange reserves," he said.
Therefore, the Minister of Tourism invited stakeholders in the tourism sector to pay attention to three main strategies in dealing with the dynamics of global trade.
First, making the tourism sector a balancing "service export". According to him, with the wealth of nature, arts and culture, and creativity of the existing community, Indonesia has a very high inherent tourism potential. However, the distribution of 13.9 million foreign tourists present in Indonesia is currently still very concentrated in certain destinations.
Widiyanti invited tourism business actors in all regions to take advantage of opportunities from changing global dynamics to promote Indonesia as a world tourism destination. The readiness of destinations, tourism products, tourism businesses, workforce, and targeted promotions need to be pursued in an integrated manner.
Supported by the government's promotional and development efforts, the Ministry of Tourism is optimistic that the tourism sector will become a source of high foreign exchange, mitigate global dynamics and become a balancing "service export".