Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Erick Thohir met with Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana to discuss collaboration in tourism development to strengthen tourist attractions and support national economic growth.

"Today, we received a visit from Minister Wardhana and her entourage," Thohir remarked after the meeting on Thursday.

At the meeting, the two ministers agreed to form a joint Project Management Officer (PMO) team to ensure continued collaboration in supporting optimal and sustainable development of the tourism sector.

According to the minister, the agreement aligns with President Prabowo Subianto's vision of placing tourism as an important sector for national economic growth and increasing Indonesian tourism's competitiveness at the global level.

Thohir said his side has integrated various important components, including transportation, infrastructure, and other supporting facilities, from airports, and planes, to hotels, to support the tourism sector.

He remarked that the successful management of tourist destinations, such as Borobudur, with its function as a religious and spiritual destination, demonstrates his commitment.

Related news: Village tourism can support Indonesia's development, says researcher

Furthermore, his side developed Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) as a sports tourism destination and improved infrastructure in Bali through special economic projects in the Benoa area as a concrete step of synergy between ministries.

On the same occasion, Minister Wardhana affirmed that the two sides discussed various existing collaborations carried out by the previous administration and planning strategic steps for the next five years.

She said that SOEs had played a positive role in developing major tourism destinations such as Borobudur and Mandalika.

"Minister Thohir and his ranks have made tremendous efforts for our tourism, such as the development of Borobudur and Mandalika," she remarked.

Furthermore, Wardhana expressed hope to expand the scope of this collaboration to other tourist areas in Indonesia to increase the attractiveness of Indonesian tourism competing at the global level.

"We will improve this collaboration for other tourist areas," she noted.

Related news: Indonesia pursues sustainability in tourism development: Minister