This is what we expect will be able to accelerate recovery, especially in the tourism sector.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian government will hold several international events to achieve this year's target of 7.4 million international tourist arrivals, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno has said.

"The target has been doubled (this year). Last year, it was 3.6 (million), and this year, (it) is 7.4 (million). One of the strategies (for meeting the target) is holding international-scale world-class events," he informed after attending a limited meeting with President Joko Widodo at the Presidential Palace here on Wednesday.

According to the minister, the government is carefully calculating the budget for holding international events so that it will be proportional to foreign exchange earnings from tourism.

The government is targeting to earn foreign exchange of US$500 million from sports tourism, he informed.

In 2023, at least four international-level sports events will be held in Indonesia.

The minister said that in late February, the F1 Powerboat championship in Toba Lake, North Sumatra, is expected to attract 25 thousand tourists and drive the economy around the area.

Then, preparations have been made for the U-20 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to help Indonesia improve its achievement in football and seize economic impact, he added.

Further, the FIBA World Cup, which will be participated by eight countries, will be held at the Indoor Multifunction Stadium, Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex, Jakarta.

Next, the ANOC World Beach Games are scheduled to be held in Bali in August 2023, which will see participation from 205 countries.

According to Uno, those events could directly affect tourists' length of stay and have a positive impact on the economy.

"This is what we expect will be able to accelerate recovery, especially in the tourism sector," he added.

Earlier, the minister said that his ministry is optimistic that the number of tourists will increase this year, considering that the government has revoked its public activity restrictions (PPKM) policy.

"The revocation of PPKM comes as a breath of fresh air for tourists. Psychologically, it will affect tourists, with the assumption that the status of the COVID-19 (pandemic) in Indonesia is very under control," he observed on Tuesday.

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Translator: Rangga Pandu, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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