Mount Agung Eruption, Tourism Potential Lost Up to Rp. 9 Trillion

Jakarta, MINA – Coordinating Minister for Marine Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan has said that Mount Agung eruption had a huge impact on tourism of Bali island. He mentioned the potential for tourism lost for 40 days due to the eruption reached up to Rp.9 trillion.

“As much as Rp. 9 trillion lost only from Bali and the total tourism potential lost throughout Indonesia is Rp.19 trillion. For example China, since the travel warning given by their government, no Chinese tourists came to Indonesia for 40 days. etc. We hope it will be better this year, hopefully things like that do not happen again in the next day, “said Luhut.

Tourism Minister Arief Yahya after a coordination meeting at Marine Coordinator Ministry, Jakarta on Monday said that foreign tourist arrivals only recorded 13.7 million or 91 percent of the target. Antaranews reported.

“Foreign tourist target is not achieved in 2017, From 15 million target, just about 13.7 million or 91 percent. While domestic tourists reached from 265 million target to 277 million, “he said.

However, the prediction was misplaced due to the restoration of the condition of Bali tourism which is expected to be completed in November, but apparently until December 2017 has not been completed yet.

In the list of annual targets, said Arief, only the visits of foreign tourists are not achieved. The rest, ranging from contributions to gross domestic product (GDP) of 5 percent, the acquisition of foreign exchange of Rp. 200 trillion, and the absorption of tourism workers as many as 13 million people have been achieved.

“Other point which is not achieved is the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), we targeted in rank of 40th, but we can only rank of 42th,” he said explaining the tourism competitiveness index compiled by the World Economic Forum (WEF). (P2/RS5)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)