"All countries in South Asia are concerned about these tariffs. We believe tourism is one of the answers to (address the challenges posed by) the tariffs set by the US," Ministry's Deputy for Resources and Institutions, Martini M. Paham, stated during a press conference of the UN Tourism 37th CAP-CSA here on Wednesday.
She explained that through the tourism sector, the government can obtain information about current market needs and thus attract investors to boost national income.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism assessed that market trends in Indonesia are now shifting toward interest-based tourism, such as gastronomy, marine tourism, and wellness.
Indonesia's gastronomic tourism is deemed strong due to its rich variety of spices, leading to the creation of the "Indonesia Spice Up the World" program.
"We want to strengthen the opportunities and capabilities of stakeholders in gastronomy. We also want to encourage the restaurant industry abroad," she emphasized.
In terms of gastronomy, Paham said her side cannot work alone, as developing the Indonesian restaurant industry abroad also involves the Ministry of Trade, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Agriculture.
In wellness tourism, she stated that the facilities offered will be linked to medical benefits, whether for treatment or disease prevention.
Paham highlighted that wellness tourism's market potential is presently experiencing high demand from travelers.
Wellness tourism experiences will encompass spa therapies, introductions to local herbs, and healthy cuisine.
Hence, the government is exploring different methods to attract foreign tourists through various social events and so on.
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Translator: Hreeloita, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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