VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of the Tourism and Creative Economy Agency (Menparekraf/Kabaparekraf) Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno said ASEAN youth or young generation must take a strategic role to ensure the availability of employment to be actively involved in action and sustainability issues.

Sandiaga was one of the panelists at the ASEAN+ Youth Summit 2023 "ASEAN Youth Strength: Collaboration in Diversity with the theme "Elevating ASEAN Opportunities: Prospects, Hurdles, and Crafting a Resilient Future Presented by ASEAN Youth Agenda", at the Jakarta Concert Hall, Thursday (7/9/2023), wants to ensure that young people take a strategic and central role in job creation and engage in sustainability issues.

"I also noted the enthusiasm of our young people in creating an ASEAN citizen show, so the culture and sense of belonging as an ASEAN country," said Minister Sandiaga.

Sandiaga said he was happy to meet with the young generation of ASEAN. The Minister also has high hopes for the young generation of ASEAN who have positive energy, creative and innovative ideas in empowering MSMEs as well as empowering women.

"The economy is largely supported by MSMEs. And 90 percent of jobs come from MSMEs, and almost 60 percent of MSMEs are engaged in the creative economy sector of culinary, fashion, handicrafts, digital economy, music, film, animation, most of which are empowered by women. So I would say this entrepreneurship really has to become an ASEAN citizen and must be promoted more as an ASEAN culture," Sandiaga said.

Furthermore, on this occasion, the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy conveyed the success story and shared best practices that have been carried out by Indonesia through the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy in efforts to restore the tourism sector and creative economy after the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I remember that day, on December 22, I was called by President Joko Widodo and I was appointed, I was told that, 'You will take care of tourism'. I thought with COVID-19 and the restrictions, do we need tourism in this situation? But apparently, it was an important moment because on that day, we designed how to personalize, customize, localize, and smaller in size tourism. How we create ecotourism, how tourism villages suddenly become very important in the tourism platform," Sandiaga said.

The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy explained that various international events such as the G20 Summit and the 43rd ASEAN Summit held in Indonesia helped tourism recovery.

He also believes that the younger generation has taken part in efforts to restore Indonesian tourism. Therefore, he invited ASEAN youth to travel to Indonesia.

"And we believe now our target is very high, 1.2 billion to 1.4 billion archipelago tourist movements targeted in 2023, will really be driven by the younger generation," said Minister Sandiaga.

Apart from the Tourism Minister, there were also other panelists at the Summit 2023 "ASEAN Youth Strength: Collaboration in Diversity, namely Climate Strategy Advisor to the World Economic Forum, Nathan Cooper; Chief Commercial Officer (COO) Sarisuki Philippines, Bam Meija; and Indonesian artist and philanthropist, Raline Shah. (VOI/Andy)