Jakarta (ANTARA) - Investment Minister and head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Bahlil Lahadalia, on Friday assured investors that investment in Indonesia's tourism sector has great prospects as many tourism potentials have not yet been developed.

"I do not hesitate to convince the investors that Indonesia has a lot of tourism (potentials) besides these five (super-priority tourism destinations /DPSPs). We can develop the other ones, such as in Papua," he said at the "Investment Forum: 5 Super-Priority Tourism Destinations" in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, which he joined online on Friday.

The tourism sector contributes significantly to job creation and encourages the development of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and the local economy, he added.

According to the ministry, the value of existing investment projects in the five DPSPs has reached Rp172.2 billion (US$11.67 million) with the value of ongoing commitments reaching Rp1.552 trillion (around US$106.24 million) and the value of interest in investment pegged at Rp1.186 trillion (US$81.19 million).

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Therefore, the minister said, the government is committed to encouraging the acceleration of infrastructure development in tourism destinations through investment.

"We are committed to accelerating, and (carrying out) comprehensive and measurable steps in almost all ministries to make (new) tourist destinations in the future because not only Bali, but we must promote (other) regions," he explained.

The government will also keep striving to make improvements in various sectors to support the tourism industry, Lahadalia added.

According to the minister, Indonesia's strong economic structure post-COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in political stability and security. "When it comes to tourism, we are talking about the safety and comfort of visitors," he said.

Meanwhile, the ministry's deputy for investment promotion, Nurul Ichwan, pointed out that Indonesia is attractive to investors from any sector due to its considerable domestic market.

"This has become power because the important thing is that the investors want their hotels and tourist attractions to be full," Ichwan said.
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Translator: Ade J, Kenzu T
Editor: Suharto
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