Jakarta, 21 April 2022 –
Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, states that the series of the G20 Summits events in Indonesia involving various parties is one of the momentums for the revival of the tourism and creative economy sector in the country affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In his online remarks at the National Workshop on "Recovery of the Global Tourism Sector Through Strengthening MSMEs and Communities within the G20 Framework", Thursday (21/4/2022), Sandiaga said that the recovery of the tourism and creative economy sector after the COVID-19 pandemic is the top priority of the MOTCE based on the pillars of innovation, adaptation, and collaboration to deliver well-targeted, beneficial, and timely policies.
"The appointment of Indonesia as the G20 Presidency shows the world that apart from Indonesia being able to survive, Indonesia can also take an even stronger opportunity in facing the COVID-19 pandemic," according to Menparekraf Sandiaga.
The series of G20 Summits events are also a means to introduce and promote the richness of Indonesia's tourism and creative economy sector to the international community. "So, this is expected to drive the economy of Indonesia," he added.
He revealed, the momentum of holding international-scale events such as the series of G20 Summits could also open up greater business and employment opportunities for the Indonesian people. Thus, there needs to be a strengthening of human resources that also increases the contribution of the Indonesian people in the G20 Summits.
The organizing of this national workshop is one of the concrete steps to strengthen the contribution of the people in strengthening the Indonesia's G20 presidency in the Tourism Working Group (TWG) forum.
At the Tourism Working Group meeting, the main issue to discuss in this 20- year meeting is the strengthening of the community as agents of change for tourism transformation focusing on five lines of action.
First, human capital related to employments, skills, entrepreneurship, and education; second, innovation, digitization, and creative economy; third, women and youth empowerment; fourth, climate action, biodiversity conservations, and circular economy; and the fifth, policy, governance, and investment frameworks.
"With this theme, I hope that the Tourism Ministers of G20 (countries) with the support of UNWTO and related partners will agree on the policy guidelines document. These are guidelines for strengthening communities and MSME as people-centered recovery tourism transformation agents," he continued.
On this occasion, Sandiaga also conveyed that Indonesia would deliver thoughts related to the tourism and creative economy sector in the United Nations General Assembly forum in early May 2022.
"It is an honor for Indonesia as the President of G20 and Chair of the ASEAN Tourism Forum to deliver our thoughts on how this sector can become a job creator, lever and locomotive for economic revival and a sector that will organize our new economy after the pandemic," Sandiaga explained.
On the same occasion, the Permanent Secretary of the MOTCE, Ni Wayan Giri Adnyani, stated, this national workshop was held to increase public awareness and participation, especially the tourism and creative economy pentahelix, namely business actors, government, local community, academics and the media, regarding the issues raised and discussed in the G20 Tourism Working Group.
"This National Workshop can be seen as a form of collaboration between sectors because it presents speakers and moderators representing the five important actors in the tourism and creative economy Penta helix. This is in accordance with the direction of the Menparekraf who emphasizes that collaboration is the key to revive the tourism and creative economy sector," Giri stated.
Attending this workshop were the Acting Deputy for Resources and Institutions of the MOTCE, Frans Teguh; and a number of officials within the MOTCE. Also present were the Vice Governor of Bali, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati; and a number of representatives from the tourism and creative economy association in the country.
In this workshop, there was a discussion session attended by a number representatives of tourism and creative economy actors and academics, including the Chair of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI), Hariyadi Sukamdani; Professor of Gajah Mada University, M. Baiquni; Head of Center for Multilateral Policy Strategy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rio Budhi Rahmanto; Academics of Udayana University, I Nyoman Darma Putra; and Chairman of Indonesia Tourism Forum, Sapta Nirwandar.
