Speaking at an event in Batam on Monday (1/1/24,) Indonesia’s Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Uno, said that the ministry managed to achieve all the targets set for 2023, and for 2024 they would focus on developing green tourism, according to reporting from Tempo.
“We close 2023 with gratitude as all targets were achieved,” Sandiaga said, explaining that the number of domestic tourist visits in 2023 had increased significantly, surpassing the level before the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that foreign tourist arrivals had exceeded the targets set by more than 35-percent.
Moreover, out of a total of 11-million international tourists, 1.5-million foreigners entered the country through the Riau Islands, particularly Batam City. “This strengthens the Riau Islands’ position as the third-largest gateway for foreign tourists entering Indonesia,” Sandiaga said.
The minister expressed optimism that breakthroughs would be made in 2024, even though there had already been a significant increase in tourism in 2023. One of the breakthroughs is related to green tourism, which prioritizes sustainability and guarantees the need for environmental resources, according to Tempo.
“We want green tourism to become a mainstay in 2024,” Sandiaga said, adding that green tourism destinations in Riau Islands include Nirup Island Batam, Boyotomo Bintan, and Lagoi Resort Bintan.
Source: Tempo
Stock by Nofi Sofyan Hadi on Unsplash
