"We are closely following Türkiye’s success in the tourism sector, noting that new tourism destinations have been identified in Indonesia and that international airports have been opened to provide access to these destinations," Wardhana said in a press release from the Embassy of Türkiye in Jakarta on Saturday.
She stated that Indonesia seeks to develop cooperation opportunities in this field, drawing on the country’s experience and knowledge in healing tourism.
"Indonesian personnel trained in this field could be employed in Türkiye, and our country also offers a wealth of options in halal tourism," she said.
Wardhana also emphasized that Türkiye and Indonesia are close allies, working together within the UN, OIC, MIKTA, and D8.
It was noted during the meeting that the two countries share deep historical ties as well as cultural values that could contribute to strengthening the tourism sector.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Küçükcan said that Türkiye has a very strong tourism infrastructure and has made significant progress in areas such as transportation, accommodation, gastronomy, and the employment of qualified personnel.
He explained that 62 million tourists visited Türkiye in 2024, generating $61 billion in revenue. He added that 200,000 Indonesian citizens visited Türkiye in 2024, while 50,000 Turks visited Indonesia during the same period.
According to him, supporting halal tourism, which reflects shared cultural values, would be beneficial to increase these numbers.
"Cities like Konya, Kayseri, Bursa, and Mardin, in addition to Istanbul, could also attract Indonesians’ interest in cultural tourism," he said.
Küçükcan also highlighted that Türkiye’s healthcare system and institutions provide high-quality services, noting that Indonesians can safely receive affordable diagnostic and treatment services from both private and public healthcare facilities in the country.
"They are open to joint projects to support health tourism," he said.
The ambassador also spoke about the Zero Waste project, initiated by First Lady Emine Erdoğan, which has made a positive impact, particularly in terms of green transformation and sustainability in tourism.
"Similar initiatives will also positively contribute to Indonesian tourism, and Türkiye would be pleased to share its Zero Waste experiences," he said.
On the occasion, both sides also discussed increasing reciprocal investments, Turkish Airlines’ request to double the number of flights to Jakarta, initiating exchange programs between educational institutions specializing in tourism, participating as guests of honor at tourism fairs, and expanding and updating the Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation signed in 1993.
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Reporter: Asri Mayang Sari
Editor: Primayanti
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