TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – On the first day of 2023, foreign tourists came to Indonesia. Of them foreign tourists who came for the first time this year was welcomed directly by the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno.

“On behalf of the government, the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy is honored to have foreign tourists visit. They are a couple from Toronto, they will be in Indonesia for a month to visit Bali in several places and they will dive” , did he declare. Sandiaga in his statement when welcoming the two tourists at I Gusti Ngurah Rai airport in Bali on Sunday, January 1, 2023.

The two foreign tourists from Toronto, Canada, arrived in Bali on a Korean Air plane from Incheon, South Korea. Besides Bali, they plan to travel to Yogyakarta and several other destinations.

The two tourists along with several tourists from South Korea were warmly welcomed with garlands and souvenirs by Sandiaga who was accompanied by Bali Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati. “So on January 1, 2023, hopefully, after the end of PPKM, it will be a new chapter in Indonesian tourism,” Sandiaga said.

Target tourist visits

Going into 2023, Sandiaga revealed that the tourist attendance target is quite high. This year, the number of foreign tourist visits is expected to reach 7.4 million and domestic tourists 1.2 to 1.4 billion movements.

Bali, one of the main destinations in Indonesia, known for its reputation in the world, should be able to support this goal with a number of foreign tourist visits of 4 million. “We hope Bali in particular can reach 4 million. This year the target (tourists in Bali) which was originally 1.8 has been reached with 2.2 million,” Sandiaga said.

To achieve this, Sandiaga said his party and challenges incumbent the related parties have prepared various programs, in particular on quality and sustainable tourism with nature and Culture as an attraction. “Also increase accessibility, add attractions, especially events. The big events in 2023 are many (related to) sport, there is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, in Bali there is the World Beach Game, in Jakarta there is the FIBA ​​World Cup,” he said.

Bali Deputy Governor Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati hopes welcoming foreign tourists will be a good start for tourism bali. “I hope this is a good start, length of stay whereas now there are about 5 days to 1 week, we hope to have more, to go back to our old glory days of more than 10 days,” he said.

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