VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The Tourism Ministry is eyeing the millennial market at London’s World Travel Market (WTM) by establishing some 100 tourist destinations to serve as photo spots and be showcased on social media platforms, including Instagram. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya told Antara, in London on Tuesday, that so far, only few countries are really eyeing the millennial tourist market, whereas the market share of such class of tourists was quite large, reaching some 50 percent of the total tourists. According to Yahya, millennial tourists are aware of the need to be recognized through beautiful photographs that they upload on their Instagram accounts. At present, the number of active Instagram users reaches more than 400 million every month. Yahya remarked that the ministry will prepare attractions or tourism events to draw more millennial tourists. "Are the existing events in line with the millennial generation`s needs and styles," the minister stated, adding that the main characteristic of the millennial generation is their active presence in cyberspace. Yahya remarked that the Ministry of Tourism will increase tourism promotion by utilizing digital media, building a broad digital tourism network to encourage online businesses, and significantly using social media in all markets. He noted that in 2016, some 49 percent of the tourists visiting Indonesia belonged to the millennium generation and were in the age group of 35 years and under, and this figure had continued to grow. "Hence, we use the digital tourism approach to promote Indonesian tourism in the country and abroad to reach the millennial generation," the minister noted. He said the World Travel and Tourism Council declared that Indonesia`s tourism sector ranked ninth in the world and that the country had the fastest growth in tourism in Southeast Asia. The Telegraph places Indonesia among the 20 fastest growing countries in the tourism sector, with a growth of 22 percent in 2017, thus being four times higher than the regional growth of seven percent and global growth at 6.4 percent. In Indonesia, the tourism sector is most prominent among other industries. Meanwhile, according to the World Economy Forum, Indonesia`s Competitiveness Index also showed a significant growth, with an increase of eight points, from 50 in 2015 to 42 in 2017. The tourism sector`s contribution to state revenues was recorded at US$15 billion in 2017, higher than $12.2 million in 2015 and $13.6 billion in 2016. The number of foreign tourist visits to Indonesia also increased significantly, from 9.7 million in 2015 to 11.5 million and 14 million in 2016 and 2017 respectively. As of September 2018, the number of foreign tourists visiting Indonesia had increased by 11.81 percent as compared to that in the same period last year. "We estimate that the number of tourists will reach 17 million by the end of 2018. We think it is not difficult to reach the target of 20 million tourists by 2019," the minister affirmed. President Joko Widodo had earlier stated that tourism was one of the leading sectors in Indonesia, so all ministries and institutions support the development of this sector. In addition, the government prioritizes and makes tourism the main pillar of the country`s economic growth, Yahya stated. (ANTARA)

As a country with sufficient industry both in the world and one of the developed countries in the European Union, the Czech Republic is very pleased to be able to cooperate with all countries in the world in various fields, especially in combating terrorism. One of them is by participating in the Indo Defense Expo which will be held in Jakarta on November 7 to 10 2018. It was stated by Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Indonesia Ivan Hotek to the Voice of Indonesia after Violin Concert to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the former Czechoslovakia on Monday ( 5/11) in Jakarta. According to Ivan Hotek, Indonesia is an important and strategic country for the Czech Republic.

 

"Indonesia is a very important and strategic partner for us. Indo Defense will be visible, will be interesting for Indonesian side events. We will have, If I'm not wrong, around 15 companies," said Ivan Hotek.

Ivan Hotek added that the delegation of the Czech Republic in the Indo-Defense Expo will be led by the Czech Republic Minister of Defense. In addition to participating in the Indo-Defense Expo 2018, the delegation along with the Czech Republic Embassy in Jakarta will also hold a concert for the victims of natural disasters in Indonesia. The Czech Ambassador also expressed his condolences for the disaster that had occured in Indonesia. The Government of the Czech Republic together with the International Red Cross will bring assistance to victims of natural disasters in Indonesia. (VOI / AHM)

The governments of Indonesia and Australia have agreed to strengthen cooperation in economic and fiscal fields.

A press release that ANTARA received from the finance ministry in Jakarta on Monday said the cooperation is needed to renew policy information and experiences of both countries.

The memorandum of understanding on program of Indonesia and Australia partnership in economy was signed by Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati and Australian Treasurer Josh Frydenberg MP in Canberra, Australia.

The cooperation covers exchanges of visits, conference or workshops, joint researches , exchange of information, exchange of employees and schedule of annual cooperation.

Both sides will facilitate exchange of information on best policy practice and share of technical experience.

With this commitment a number of senior staff of Austalian Treasury would be assigned to the office of the Fiscal Policy Department (BKF) of the Finance Ministry.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said she welcomed the commitment and the recommendation of the Australian government to share experience in the fiscal management and taxation reform.

The cooperation renewed earlier memorandum of understanding between the two countries signed in 2013.

Earlier Australian Treasury and BKF held dialog on bilateral economic policy.

Every year the two fiscal authorities discuss and determine joint priorities in cooperation related to policies.

Various topics already discussed at the BEPD include international topics, regional topics, and bilateral issues of mutual interest . (ANTARA)

Cooperation between Indonesia and New Zealand, especially relations between the people of both nations, still needs to be further explored, former Indonesian ambassador to New Zealand Amris Hassan stated.

"Many areas can be explored by the younger generation, for instance, the digital industry, as New Zealand is very well-known in this field," Hassan noted during the appointment of the new board of Indonesia-New Zealand Friendship Council in Jakarta on Monday.

Sustainable agriculture, creative economy, advertising, geothermal, and disaster management are also fields that are favored by New Zealand for which cooperation with Indonesia can be forged.

As a country that is equally vulnerable to disasters due to being geographically located in the ring of fire region, Indonesia has gained a lot of knowledge on disaster mitigation from New Zealand.

Indonesia has "borrowed" New Zealand earthquake-resistant building standards since 1975, thereby becoming an example of important cooperation in the field of disaster mitigation.

"New Zealand is very capable of managing disasters through the development of technology," Hassan, who recently handed over the chairmanship of the Indonesia-New Zealand Friendship Council to Indradi Soemardjan, noted.

Under the new management, Hassan expressed hope that the organizational role, formed since the past eight years, will further strengthen relations and cooperation between the people of Indonesia and New Zealand through rejuvenation of the vision and mission, as well as younger members.

"There is still a lot of space for cooperation that needs to be filled both at the government and non-formal levels. This organization can bridge the gap," he stated.

Chairman of the Indonesia-New Zealand Friendship Council Indradi Soemardjan said he will work to encourage cooperation between the two countries in various fields, ranging from agriculture to technology.

In fact, he is ready to welcome a New Zealand startup delegation next week that will study the course of startup businesses in the country.

"They want to see how Indonesia manages our startup. Later, they will also visit the Go-Jek office," Soemardjan stated.

Soemardjan is a senior executive, who is active and enjoys sound relations with the business community in the ASEAN and New Zealand.

In addition to serving as director of PT Javanero and treasurer for the Sustainable Coffee Platform of Indonesia, he is also on the Global Advisory Board of Agrea LEAF of the Philippines and the New Zealand Institute Advisory Group at the University of Auckland.

Soemardjan was selected as a participant in the ASEAN Young Business Leader Innitiative in 2014, a program funded by New Zealand.

New Zealand Ambassador to Indonesia Trevor Matheson praised the leadership and contributions of Hassan during his eight-year tenure as chairman of the council and welcomed the appointment of Soemardjan to carry forward the role of Hassan.

"The appointment of a new chairman is a good opportunity for the business sector to engage more deeply," Ambassador Matheson noted.

The Indonesia-New Zealand Friendship Council has helped establish cooperation between private companies and promote business interests between the two countries.

The New Zealand Embassy is optimistic of working more closely with the council to improve bilateral trade and investment relations.

The bilateral relations between Indonesia and New Zealand have been upgraded to the level of comprehensive partnership, which was agreed upon during the visit of Indonesian President Joko Widodo to Wellington and at the meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern in March 2018. (ANTARA)