Tourism Polytechnic will be added at two new locations, Greater Solo (Central Java) and Manado (North Sulawesi). In addition, (we) need to invest in the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector and tourism villagesJakarta (ANTARA) - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno is optimistic of the tourism sector recording continued growth despite the potential for recession and economic slowdown in 2023 by prioritizing human resource development through investment in education.
"Tourism Polytechnic will be added at two new locations, Greater Solo (Central Java) and Manado (North Sulawesi). In addition, (we) need to invest in the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector and tourism villages," he was quoted as saying in The Weekly Brief with Uno on Thursday.
In addressing the challenge of an economic slowdown, the ministry will continue to make various efforts to implement programs that can reach MSME players. Those programs include digital transformation through the Proud of Indonesian Products National Movement (Gernas BBI) and improving the community's purchasing power through capital, training, mentoring, and marketing programs.
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Furthermore, Uno has planned to meet with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, to help MSMEs by providing additional working capital, so that they continue to create 97 percent of the jobs in order to maintain the people's purchasing power.
"I see the threat of recession that has been conveyed many times by the minister of finance and also the outlook we have received from several institutions, analysis, and reports from economists that there will be a slowdown and there is a possibility of entering a recession zone," he remarked.
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If preparations are made early, then Indonesia can face the economic situation in a more prepared and resilient state, he affirmed.
To this end, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is keen to offer stimulus programs, upskilling-reskilling-new skilling programs in the pre-employment concept, and programs to improve the readiness of tourism and creative economy players to acquire new skills while meeting with Minister Hartarto.
"Hopefully, in the third quarter of 2022, they can be prepared, and in the fourth quarter of 2022, they can be considered and then be launched in 2023," the minister remarked.
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Translator: M Baqir, Raka Adji
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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