Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, is exploring collaboration opportunities in the tourism and creative economy sectors with Japan to boost tourist visits. During a meeting with representatives from the Japan Tourism Agency in Tokyo on Monday, Sandiaga projected an increase in Japanese foreign tourist arrivals to 500,000 by 2024. To achieve this target, he emphasized the need for cooperation with the Japan Tourism Agency, suggesting agreements such as a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) or Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations. The potential scope of collaboration includes the exchange of experiences and knowledge in organizing major events, training programs, and education to enhance skills in hospitality and tourism, as well as improving connectivity. Sandiaga expressed admiration for Japan's approach to international events, citing the Tokyo Olympics and Taylor Swift concerts as examples. Through this collaboration, he anticipates a surge in tourist movements and the creation of employment opportunities.
Japan, a significant contributor to tourist visits to Indonesia, saw over 220,000 visits in 2023, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy records. Ichiro Takahashi, Commissioner of the Japan Tourism Agency, lauded the extraordinary potential of Indonesia's human resources, especially those working in the hospitality sector in Japan. He highlighted the positive learning experiences from Indonesia, particularly during the 2022 G20 Summit, where Indonesia presented documents discussing Community-Based Tourism. Ichiro recognized Indonesia as a crucial partner for Japan in the tourism sector, especially as Indonesia is a prominent destination in Southeast Asia. Welcoming Sandiaga's proposal for swift collaboration agreements, Ichiro confirmed Japan's commitment to enhancing international tourism cooperation, including with Indonesia. In conclusion, the meeting signifies a promising step towards strengthened ties between the two nations in fostering tourism and creative economy collaboration.
