He highlighted the importance of the MPD program, as the latest means to keep a count of the number of tourists visiting a country through the use of digital technology. Indonesia has applied the new technique with the assistance of the World Tourism Organization since 2016, according to Minister Yahya. 

Yahya also noted that Indonesia is committed to STD and STO that could lead to STC. Hence, the Tourism Ministry has intensified the drafting of concepts on sustainable tourism development over the last three years. Indonesia is the second Asian country to have developed STO, after China. The country has set up five STO models in cooperation with universities.

The five STO models are in Pangandaran, in cooperation with the Bandung Institute of Technology; in Sleman, Yogyakarta, with the University of Gadjah Mada; Sasaot Lombok, with the University of Mataram; Samosir, with the University of North Sumatra; and Sanur Bali, with the University of Udayana. Seven more STO models are being developed, and all are within the regions of the 10 Priority Tourist Destinations.

The seven STO will be located in Tanjung Lesung in Banten, in cooperation with the University of Indonesia; Tanjung Kelayang in Belitung, with the Bogor University of Agriculture; Seribu Islands in Jakarta, with the University of Pancasila; Bromo Tengger Semeru, with the University of Airlangga in Surabaya; in Labuan Bajo Komodo, with the University of Flores, East Nusa Tenggara; Wakatobi in Southeast Sulawesi, with the University of Hasanuddin in Makassar; and Morotai in North Maluku, with the University of Khairun.

In the next stage, the Tourism Ministry will establish the Indonesian Sustainable Tourism Council to formulate guidelines and program for sustainable tourism certification program. The minister is optimistic with regard to the Homestay program, as the country has 17,508 islands and some 75 thousand villages.

Indonesia has 1,734 tourism villages in 2018 and plans to set up two thousand more in 2019. Moreover, the ministry has outlined a target of setting up some 10 thousand homestay accommodations in the 10 Priority Tourism Destination regions in 2019. (ant)