Tourism Ministry To Further Push For Deregulation In Marine Tourism

Jakarta (Antara Bali)- Tourism Minister Arief Yahya will further push for deregulation measures in maritime tourism, which is expected to contribute higher foreign exchange earnings to the nation.

"We must conduct massive deregulation in the marine tourism sector. Currently, it takes 21 days to obtain a permit for a foreign yacht to enter Indonesia, while it takes only one hour in our competitors, such as Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. How are we going to be able to compete if we give our clients trouble?" the minister stated in his office, here, Monday evening, during the launch of the Nusantara (Archipelago) Day.

Maritime tourism in Indonesia is one of the best in the world, but it only contributed US$1 billion to the state's foreign exchange earning in 2015, he noted.

Of the US$1 billion, 60 percent came from beach tourism, 25 percent from seascape tourism, and 15 percent from underwater tourism.

Meanwhile, Malaysia, which has a comparatively shorter coastal line than Indonesia, earned $8 billion from marine tourism, he pointed out.

The minister believes that unfavorable regulations have hampered further growth in the country's maritime tourism industry.

Hence, the government should seriously consider conducting further deregulation for the marine tourism sector, he emphasized.

Indonesia has the world's second-longest coastline after Canada, and two-thirds of the country's coral reefs are the best in the world.

Moreover, three of the world's best diving and snorkeling sites are in Indonesia.

Deregulation measures should be coordinated by the offices of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs, Transportation Ministry, and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, Yahya added. (WDY)