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Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno stated that the promulgation of additional leave days proposed by the ministry aims to drive domestic tourism to achieve the 1.4-billion movement target in 2023.

By declaring an extra day off a working day to substitute public holidays that fall on weekends, the minister believed that it could increase workers' productivity and well-being.

"It has been proven by studies that following a long weekend, (workers) will be fresher and have greater productivity, and we have its scientific reference," Uno stated at the ministry's weekly brief, as observed here, Monday.

Uno remarked that the Ministry of State Apparatus and Bureaucratic Reform (PAN-RB) had been notified about the proposed additional leave day plan.

"We have proposed this to the (PAN-RB) ministry, and the decision now depends on the (Tourism and Creative Economy) ministry's Deputy of Strategic Policies. We can start by declaring only some off days this year, but we must not hastily declare (year-round) extra off days," he expounded.

The minister said that extra leave days would give more time to residents to enjoy their holidays, particularly during Eid al-Fitr, Christmas and New Year's Day, and school holiday periods.

"We are now finalizing the arrangement, and I also propose more changes to be finalized. Thus, we could have longer holidays that could bolster tourism movement nationwide," Uno stated.

Meanwhile, he said that those in the industry sector could adjust their working days if they feel the extra off days are burdening.

"We are open (to criticism) if they feel it will burden them, and we must also consider ways to incentivize the industry to relieve their burden," Uno remarked. (Antaranews)