Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Kartika Wirjoatmodjo stated that the tourism fund was discussed at a limited meeting, and a presidential regulation related to it is expected to be issued in March 2024.

"We hope to complete the presidential regulation in March, and it (the tourism fund) is expected to be operational this year," he stated at the Coordinating Ministry for the Maritime Affairs and Investment Office here on Wednesday.

Wirjoatmodjo remarked that the Ministry of SOEs also encouraged the immediate issuance of a presidential regulation on a Public Service Agency (BLU) for the flexible financial management of tourism funds.

The tourism fund can serve as a new catalyst to present cultural and ecotourism events, so that Indonesia will become increasingly known worldwide, he noted.

"This fund will become a source for various events, such as the F1 Power Boat, MotoGP, and so on. Hopefully, it can be a new catalyst to create new events, so that Indonesia will have more world-class ecotourism and cultural events," the deputy minister said.

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Meanwhile, Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno stated that the tourism fund disbursement can reach Rp2 trillion (US$127.5 million) annually.

This fund is expected to support the tourism and creative economy sectors. The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy will also curate an array of events, so that they can have an impact on the welfare of local communities and open new jobs.

Through the fund, the ministry will present international-quality events at the five super-priority destinations in Indonesia.

The effort to establish a tourism fund was inspired by the success of the MotoGP racing event that was able to generate Rp4.5 trillion, or around US$287 million, in 2022.

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Translator: Maria C, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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