Jakarta (ANTARA) - Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, on Tuesday said that tourism special economic zones (KEKs) are among the assets whose development the government is prioritizing as they can bring in foreign exchange quickly.

One of the initiatives prepared for the development of tourism KEKs is opening direct flight routes from other countries to the zones, which could boost foreign exchange.

"We want to try opening regional airlines so they can fly directly to their destinations. For example, via Mandalika, and also Labuan Bajo, once the (Mt. Lewotobi) disaster is over, this direct flight access will be pushed," he informed while visiting Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base in Jakarta.

According to the minister, the opening of direct international flights to tourism KEKs would play an important role and be in line with efforts to restore conditions to their pre-pandemic state.

That is why the government is working to restore regional flights to support the development of KEKs.

"If there are no flights, how can tourists come? If they have to go to Jakarta first, then from Jakarta to, let's say Mandalika or Labuan Bajo. Or, they must go to Jakarta first, then North Sulawesi, back and forth. Pre-COVID-19, there were many direct flights from regional areas," he pointed out.

Earlier, while discussing the contribution of KEKs to the national economy on December 9, 2024, Hartarto said that the massive inflow of investments and industrial activities from the 24 KEKs established by the government could spur higher economic growth.

"Considering the President's directive of pursuing eight percent economic growth, one of the initiatives to achieve this is through KEKs," he added.

He highlighted that in other countries, such as China, Vietnam, and Thailand, the concept of KEKs has been developed. Therefore, Indonesia must also begin to focus on building productive KEKs to catch up with other ASEAN countries.

As of the third quarter of 2024, the cumulative investment in the KEKs reached Rp242.5 trillion. Meanwhile, 394 business actors in the special economic zones had absorbed 151,260 workers as of September 2024.

Currently, there are 24 KEKs, consisting of 12 industrial KEKs, 7 tourism KEKs, 2 digital KEKs, and 1 other services KEK. (INE)

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Translator: Kuntum Khaira Riswan
Editor: Atman Ahdiat
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