The Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, hopes that Sail Tidore 2022 will be a momentum for Indonesia to re-brand marine tourism in the international arena. Sail Tidore 2022 is a series of the 12th Sail Indonesia agenda which will be held from 24 November 2022 to 29 November 2022. "We must be optimistic that Sail Tidore will be able to contribute to helping the recovery process of the domestic tourism industry," Luhut said virtually at the Sail Tidore 2022 Launching event at the Ministry of Trade Auditorium, Tuesday (11/10). He considered, since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak that hit Indonesia for two years, the tourism industry was facing considerable challenges. Even so, Indonesia's tourism and creative economy conditions at various tourist destinations are gradually recovering.
According to Luhut, marine tourism is able to have a positive impact on the Indonesian economy. This happened in 2013 where marine tourism contributed 10% of foreign exchange or equivalent to USD 1 billion. "This moment is a success in the tourism sector that we must achieve," he said.
He asked ministries/agencies and local governments to work together to make Sail Tidore 2022 a success. To support this, the government must prepare a series of events professionally by accelerating infrastructure support, restoring accommodation, involving MSMEs in exhibitions to optimizing CSR support and massive publications. "Specifically, the minister of trade and local government should prepare for follow-up after this event. Take advantage of the maritime potential of Tidore as a national and international sail strategy path so that it can provide sustainable benefits to the local economy," he said. In addition, he asked the governors and mayors to continue maintaining the facilities that have been built by the central government. The reason is that the construction of these facilities uses the state budget. "We build with people's money, don't let it be damaged, take care of it properly, show the government's real commitment to being able to take care of it," concluded Luhut.
