(TAN): Garuda Indonesia’s president and director Irfan Setiaputra has urged the country’s government to reconsider its plan to develop 10 new tourist destinations and instead focus on tourism recovery amid the current COVID-19 crisis, The Jakarta Post reported.
Setiaputra said it might make more sense for the tourism ministry to focus on a single destination to bring back foreign tourists.
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“When someone buys a ticket to travel, they will only go to one destination. [Too many destinations] might be distracting,” he said during an online discussion held by the Indonesian National Air Carriers Association (INACA) on Thursday. “So we [Garuda and the ministry] are currently discussing focusing on one or two destinations so we can bring in domestic and international visitors.”
Bali has remained the top destination for airlines during the pandemic, he added.
The 10 destinations refer to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s initiative to develop new tourist destinations such as Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Borobudur in Central Java, Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara and Labuan Bajo in East Nusa Tenggara.
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The government expects a full recovery of foreign tourist arrivals only by 2025. Only 2.8 million–4 million foreign visitors are expected this year, well below the government’s initial target of 18 million.
Bali reopened for domestic tourists in late July. It is planning to welcome international tourists on September 11.
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