Indonesia cuts tourist arrivals target more than half due to COVID-19
Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama Kusubandio has revised down the number of foreign tourists to Indonesia in 2020 from 16 million to 5 million amid the spread of COVID-19.
Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesian Minister ofTourism and Creative Economy Wishnutama Kusubandio has revised down the numberof foreign tourists to Indonesia in 2020from 16 million to 5 million amid the spread of COVID-19.
Speakingat an online press conference on April 16, Wishnutama said his office also cut this year’s target of revenue from international tourists more than halffrom last year’s realisation of 20 billion USD.
TheStatistics Indonesia (BPS) reported on April 1 that the number of foreign travelers in the country declined by 30.42 percent to 885,100 due toimpacts of the pandemic.
The biggest decline was seen in holidaymakers from mainland China(94.11 percent), followed by those from Hong Kong (China) (93.12 percent). However, there were slight increases in the numbers of tourists from Malaysia andJapan.
Addressinga Cabinet meeting the same day, President Joko Widodo believed that there willbe boom in Indonesian tourism next year if the epidemic ends at the end of thisyear. He urged the officials to prepare to take advantage from therise of the domestic tourism sector in 2021.
He also asked ministers to prepare an economic stimulus package forbusinesses in the tourism sector and the creative economy, so that they cansurvive and not make layoffs on a large scale.
LastFebruary, the government rolled out a stimulus package worth 10.3 trillion Rp (664.51million USD) for the tourism sector in the form of discounted airline tickets to 10 majortourist destinations, incentives for airlines and travel agents and tax exemptionfor restaurants and hotels in these destinations. /.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo will attend the ASEAN Special Summit and the ASEAN+3 Special Summit on COVID-19 Response will be held online on April 14 under the chair of Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Indonesia will be able to produce up to 16,000 personal protective equipment (PPE) units per day to fight the COVID-19, Minister of Industry Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita announced on April 15.
Indonesia has overtaken Japan to become the world's third-biggest aviation market as airlines continue to reduce passenger capacity because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to OAG Aviation Worldwide.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
Illustrative image (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
