The strategy needed to raise the number of visit is that the government must first add visa-free countries to the current list. A while back, 47 countries have been added to that list.
Second, by improving flight categories through lobbying. Rizal said that from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) perspective, our airspace is included under category 2, meaning that it is parallel with countries in Africa. In order to increase tourism, it must enter category 1, therefore lobbying is require.
“We have instructed the transportation minister to make it in the list within the next 1.5 year, and to improve radar system and personnels,” said Rizal.
Third, the government must determine tourism areas outside of Bali, considering the massive tourism potential outside of the region.
“One of it is Toba Lake, which we intend to build as “The Monaco of Asia” because it is so beautiful,” said Rizal.
However, selling tourism for its beauty will attract less tourist, so there should by a story value and imagination offered. In Rome, for instance, tourist still visits the colosseum eventhough the building is ancient. They imagine Gladiators.
“Tourist destinations in Indonesia will not only sell sceneries, but should also have histories behind it,” he said.
TEMPO