REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, CIPUTAT -- Former Minister of Commerce, Muhammad Lutfi, revealed the anxiety experienced by his close friend, Minister of State for State Owned Enterprises Erick Thohir about Indonesia's tourism sector. The concern arose when Erick became the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment ad interim for about two months at the end of 2023.
“Yesterday Mr. Erick was talking about tourism. He was briefly Menko Marves when Pak Luhut (Binsar Panjaitan) was obstructed,” Lutfi said during the First Voters Festival event held by TKN Fanta Prabowo-Gibran in South Tangerang on Tuesday (23/1/2024) evening.
Lutfi said that Erick ngomel-ngomel or worried that the contribution of the tourism sector to Indonesia's gross domestic product (GDP) is very small, which is only Rp 700 trillion. The contribution of the mining sector reached IDR 2,800 trillion.
The contribution of Indonesia's tourism sector is far less than that of equivalent countries. According to Lutfi, the contribution of Indonesia's tourism sector to GDP should be Rp 2,000 trillion. “If we compare it with Turkey, it could reach Rp 4,000 trillion,” he said.
Lutfi said that if Indonesia reduces environmental damage due to mining, then GDP from the tourism sector can be increased. He called the efforts to increase the GDP of Indonesia's tourism sector the same as the term low hanging fruit or easy to achieve.
If the GDP of the tourism sector is increased, he said, then Indonesia's economic growth could reach 6 to 7 percent per year. “When we can get Rp 2,000 trillion growth from tourism, who benefits? Those who are at the forefront of the tourism industry are our young people,” he said.
Lutfi then told about meeting and hearing the speech of presidential candidate number 2, Prabowo Subianto on Monday (22/1/2023). He said Prabowo was a leader who could lead Indonesia into an industrialist country, as well as advance the creative industries and tourism sectors.
“I am sometimes sad that there are potential leaders who say that downstream can be ruled out in twisted logical ways. We must reject such leaders today as well,” Lutfi said.
“There are people who say that the tourism industry can be sidelined in ways that are not right, we must reject such leaders today as well,” he added.
Lutfi is a supporter of the 2nd running mate, Prabowo-Gibran in the 2024 presidential election. In the event held by TKN, Lutfi had a two-fingered pose and explained the importance of Prabowo-Gibran winning one round.
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