VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - Indonesia has been elected as one of four countries that will represent the East Asia and Pacific Region on the Executive Council of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for the period 2023-2027. This result was obtained through a vote conducted at the UNWTO East Asia and Pacific Regional Commission Session in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Friday, June 16, 2023. The session was attended by 20 countries from the East Asia and Pacific region.

In the session, Sandiaga Uno, Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, led the Indonesian Delegation which consisted of the Indonesian Ambassador to Madrid as the Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the UNWTO, Dr. Muhammad Najib; Deputy for Resources and Institutions of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, Martini Mohamad Paham; Indonesian Ambassador to Wellington 2017-2021, Tantowi Yahya; as well as a joint team from the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The session was also attended by UNWTO Secretary General, Zurab Pololikashvili.

Indonesia managed to get 16 votes, which was the most votes in an election that also featured China, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand as candidates. Four of the five candidates with the most support officially represent the East Asia and Pacific Region. As such, Indonesia will replace Thailand on the UNWTO Executive Board along with Japan (15 votes), China (14 votes), and South Korea (12 Votes) for the next four years. The UNWTO Executive Board itself consists of 34 countries representing six regional commissions, namely Africa, the Americas, East Asia and the Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and South Asia.

The election of Indonesia is a reflection of the maximum synergy between the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indonesian Embassy in Madrid as the Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the UNWTO headquartered in Madrid, Spain. The success of garnering support in the election adds to the long line of recognition from the region and the world of Indonesia's role in the tourism sector. Previously, Indonesia also received widespread appreciation for successfully hosting the World Tourism Day (WTD) commemoration held in Bali on September 26-28, 2022, which was held back-to-back with the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting.

Indonesia's election as a member of the UNWTO Executive Board will add solidity to Indonesia's active role and global leadership in tourism sector cooperation. Moreover, membership on the Executive Board will also give Indonesia greater responsibility in the region as well as the opportunity to champion national interests and participate in advancing the global tourism sector.

In addition to leading the Indonesian Delegation, the Minister also signed the International Code for the Protection of Tourists (ICPT) at the session. (VOI)