Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - Indonesia said it welcomed offer by the Organization for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) to help develop the country`s tourism through analysis and research.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said he had met with OECD leaders at an OECD Secretary General Meeting in Octopus Ristorante, Ayodya Hotel, Nusa Dua, Bali, on the sidelines of the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank to end here on Sunday.

His meeting with the OECD leaders was to discuss cooperation in tourism sector. The purpose is to support efforts to reach the target for tourism visits to Indonesia, Arief Yahya said here on Saturday.

Arief met with the OECD Secretary General Jose Angel Gu?rra on the sidelines of the IMF-WB meeting to discuss development of Indonesia`s tourism sector with assistance in expertise from OECD.

Three main points in his talks with Guirra are about deregulation policy. The policy is boosted to back up ease of entering Indonesia and ease of doing business in Indonesia, the minister said.

The second point is related to sustainable investment and financing for development of tourist destinations, he said.

The last point is related to human resources in the tourism sector, the Minister said.

"Human resources in Indonesia, has to continue to improve in skills and competence. The purpose is Indonesia`s business players in the tourism industry has to be competitive," he said.

Earlier, an economic survey by OECD Indonesia 2018 said the Indonesia had recorded strong growth in its tourism industry.

OECD recorded the number of visits by foreign tourists to the country almost tripled in the past 10 years with Chinese the largest visitors.

OECD Secretary General Jose Angel Gu?rra said Indonesia had been right in making tourism a priority sector as tourism development in the country has been more than merely about tourism.

He said Indonesians should take full advantage of tourism and hold vocational training and job training.

In addition, OECD has seen infrastructure development has contributed to boosting the tourism sector, however, there is still gap including between infrastructure, which is specially developed for tourism, and infrastructure related to the environment.

"Through cooperation, OECD hoped to be able to help Indonesia especially in tourism analysis and research. Certainly the purpose is to for a better future of Indonesia ," Guirra said.

Indonesia has been more aggressive in promoting its tourist objects, opening new ports for tourist boats and marinas , building tourism infrastructure hoping to make the sector to be one of the country`s largest foreign exchange earner.

The government has set target to chalk up 20 million visits by foreign tourists to the country in 2019 from around 10 million in 2015.
Reporting by Hanni Sofia
Editing by A Saragih, A Abdussalam

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Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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