Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno aims to revive Indonesia’s tourism industry, which has taken a hit from the Covid-19 pandemic throughout 2020.

The former Jakarta Deputy Governor announced that “Covid-19’s effects on the Indonesian tourist industry forced the Tourism and Creative Economy to target four to seven million foreign tourists in 2021,” he said in a press release on Thursday, December 31 2020.

Sandiaga maintained that the ministry will still aim high by focusing on five ‘Super Priority Destinations’, namely Lake Toba, Borobudur, Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, and Likupang.

“We will bolster these and other tourist destinations by emphasizing on the 3 A’s of Attraction, Amenity and Accessibility, as well as push for digital technology, investment and promotion of the tourism sector.”

Sandiaga pointed out that the industry will diversify to the outdoors, sports, health, wellness, ecotourism as well as medical tourism.

“[The tourist industry] will apply health protocols based on CHSE or cleanliness, health, safety and environment in tourist destinations and creative economy. They will be key in regaining tourists’ trust in the tourism industry during the pandemic and onwards,” Sandiaga said.

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“We can promote CHSE further by holding mega events, mega family trips, MICE [Meeting, Incentive, Convention and Exhibition] roadshows overseas. We will also endorse the use of E-HAC or Health Alert Cards to the wider public and other institutions.”

He noted that the latter can be coordinated with the Ministry of Health and telecommunications providers to monitor the coming and going of visitors with potential health issues.

Sandiaga also pledged to work closely with universities, provincial administrations as well as the public and business sectors to bolster tourism and creative economy in Indonesia.

Sandiaga’s deputy Angela Tanoesoedibjo asserted that the Ministry will opt for a cutting edge approach in pitching Indonesian tourism.

“Our strategy is based on innovation, adaptation and collaboration. We will use big data to design a more personalized means of promotion, and ensure that movers in the tourist industry and creative economy can survive,” she said.

The Covid-19 pandemic hit Indonesian tourism hard in 2020, as it resulted in a 70.57 percent drop in visitor numbers the year before.

3.56 million tourists came to Indonesia between January to September 2020, compared to the 12.1 million visitors who came during the same period in 2019.

The coronavirus also kept the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy from meeting its target of receiving 18 million visitors in 2020.