"I am optimistic that this forum would yield strategic recommendations in an effort to support recovery of the world's tourism industry, especially Indonesian tourism, to get back up and move the community's economyJakarta (ANTARA) - The COVID-19 pandemic poses a challenge to the tourism sector to rise and contribute to the national income, according to Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.
The tourism sector is one that is most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, with a drastic decrease in the number of tourist arrivals, Amin stated at the "Global Tourism Forum 2021" event at Raffles Jakarta, Wednesday.
"The pandemic is a big challenge for the tourism sector to be able to rise and contribute to national income again," the vice president affirmed.
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In Indonesia, the number of foreign tourist arrivals in 2020 had decreased by 75.03 percent as compared to that in 2019. The number of foreign tourists arriving in Indonesia in 2020 had reached only 4.02 million, while the number of foreign tourists visiting the country in 2019 had reached 16.11 million.
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The tourism sector of several countries also bore the brunt of the COVID-19 crisis, as 2020 turned out to be the most challenging year for the tourism industry at the global level, the vice president pointed out.
The United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) noted that the number of international tourists declined by 74 percent globally as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential revenue losses amounted to US$1.3 trillion.
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"As many as 100 to 120 million tourism workers lost their jobs. The Asia and Pacific region experienced the most drastic decline, reaching 84 percent," he noted.
Hence, in order to revive the tourism industry, Amin is optimistic that the 2021 Global Tourism Forum (GTF) would be able to produce strategic recommendations and drive the community's economy.
"I am optimistic that this forum would yield strategic recommendations in an effort to support recovery of the world's tourism industry, especially Indonesian tourism, to get back up and move the community's economy," the vice president affirmed.
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Translator: Fransiska N, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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