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Indonesian Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana (left) and UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri hold a meeting in Abu Dhabi. ANTARA/HO-Ministry of Tourism 

VOInews, United Arab Emirates : Indonesian Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana has invited investors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to increase investment in Indonesia's tourism sector.

During her meeting with UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri in Abu Dhabi, Wardhana said that she saw the great potential for UAE tourist visits to Indonesia.

"In 2023, UAE investments in Indonesia's tourism sector saw a substantial increase," she said in a statement on Sunday.

In that year, UAE investments in Indonesia's tourism sector increased sixfold compared to 2022. The top investment sectors were restaurants, travel agency activities, and star hotels.

So far this year, UAE investments have reached US$1.8 million. In the last three years, the figure has reached US$5.66 million.

"This provides further opportunities for UAE investors to expand their portfolios," Wardhana stated.

During her visit, she also promoted some tourist destinations in Indonesia. She invited UAE investors to invest more in Indonesia's tourism sector, which is becoming more promising.

"I am optimistic that this will further strengthen cooperation in the tourism sector between Indonesia and the UAE in the future," she said.

Wardhana said that tourism is a top sector of the Indonesian economy. It is also the main contributor to the 2023 national investment target.

She added that investors should not be hesitant to invest in Indonesia's five super-priority destinations and 10 tourism special economic zones (SEZs)//Antara-VOI