“As one of the leading destinations in the region, Indonesia fully supports this joint effort to strengthen ASEAN’s identity and open up opportunities for broader collaboration,” she said in an official statement released in Jakarta on Saturday.
The two programs—the ASEANTA Tourism Award and a new digital platform called the ‘Discover ASEAN’ Microsite—are expected to invite the public to explore the diversity, dynamics, and strengths of Indonesian tourism.
In her remarks at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Friday, Puspa noted that ASEAN is one of the main markets for Indonesian tourism.
In 2024, out of the total 13.9 million international tourist arrivals in Indonesia, 4.8 million were from ASEAN countries. Furthermore, in the first half of this year, 38.2 percent of international tourists to Indonesia are projected to have come from ASEAN countries.
Related news: Access to ASEAN air transportation drives Bali's tourism: BPS
Therefore, Puspa said that the Tourism Ministry is committed to fully supporting ASEANTA’s efforts and is ready to continue collaborating with industry players, associations, and regional partners to deliver tangible benefits to the community and the national tourism sector.
She further said that the ASEANTA Tourism Award is an effort to recognize tourism players in Southeast Asia.
The launch of the ASEAN Tourism Microsite, developed in close partnership with AirAsia MOVE, is expected to make it easier for ASEAN tourists to access information and plan trips across countries in the region.
“AirAsia MOVE is also a strategic partner for the Tourism Ministry in collaborating to attract tourists, especially from the ASEAN region,” she said.
ASEANTA president Eddy Krismeidi Soemawilaga conferred the 39th ASEANTA Tourism Awards to tourism players in 12 categories, in recognition of their contributions to digital campaigns and sustainability initiatives to cultural preservation and travel content creation, among others.
“This effort underscores ASEAN’s shared commitment to promoting tourism recovery, digital innovation, and cross-border collaboration, which aligns with Southeast Asia’s post-pandemic development agenda,” Soemawilaga said.
Related news: SOEs minister sanguine about Labuan Bajo becoming 'The Next Bali'
Translator: Hreeloita Dharma Shanti, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2025
