In order to speed up the recovery of the travel industry once the pandemic is over, the Indonesian government will provide a US$1.68 billion stimulus package that includes airfare and hotel discounts.
The Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Agency head, Febrio Kacaribu, said that the stimulus package aims to boost consumption among the middle class, and that “If the public is eager to travel in the third quarter of 2020, we will provide a stimulus for tourism, restaurants and transportation”.
According to the authorities, the first main objective is to boost local tourism. National destinations such as the Komodo Island, one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, will be the key to a fast recovery.
Tourism Minister Wishnutama Kusubandio urged travel agents to use digital platforms to help the industry regain its power after the pandemic. He is also formulating promotional plans with various stakeholders in tourism to be prepared for a surge in tourists.
The plan is regulated under Government Regulation No. 23/2020 on the national economic recovery program, in which the government will carry out efforts to support a recovery after the pandemic eases.