Hopefully, tourists will be more comfortable traveling domestically, (within Indonesia)
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Tlusure application, which has been officially launched by PT Fantastis Anak Bangsa, will serve as a guide for tourists, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno has said.

The application will provide tourists information regarding the condition of tourist destinations in the green or other zones, recommend tourist destinations to users, and related health protocols, the minister noted.

"Hopefully, tourists will be more comfortable traveling domestically, (within Indonesia)," Uno said at the virtual launch of the Tlusure application, accessed from here on Wednesday.

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns over the past two years, especially in the tourism and creative economy sectors, he pointed out.

Foreign tourist arrivals in Indonesia have reduced greatly, sliding by 80 percent in 2020 and 75 percent in 2021, on account of the ongoing pandemic, Uno said.

Among the factors for the declining number have been stricter travel regulations, which have affected the incomes of 34 million people whose livelihood depends on the tourism sector, he pointed out.

However, at the same time, there has been an interesting development: a rapid increase in the value of the digital economy, Uno said.

The value of the digital economy has soared by 49 percent year-on-year (yoy) to reach US$70 billion, he said.

The online travel sector has also experienced an increase of 29 percent to reach US$3.5 billion, he added.

"This is an anomaly that we must welcome with innovation," the minister remarked.

Through collaboration with tourism villages and creative villages to establish better opportunities for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the Tlusure application is expected to be a game changer, he said.

"Efforts to recover the economy must increase people's living standards, expand job opportunities, and utilize MSMEs," Uno added.

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Translator: M Baqir I A, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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