Indonesia is ready for AEC 2015

ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) which will be effective by the end of 2015 is a great opportunity for Indonesia as ASEAN member to boost foreign tourists visit.

Minister Mari Pangestu states that readiness for AEC requires improvement on accessibility, more direct flights to main tourism destinations, and better infrastructure. Direct flight helps boost tourists visit as seen this January after the opening of new direct flight from Perth to Lombok International Airport, which gives 300% tourist increase.

 

The Long Term Tourism Plan sets 25 million foreign tourists for 2025, meanwhile “This year we target for 9.3 – 9.5 million foreign tourists and are optimistic for another 10 million in the following year,” said Minister Mari Pangestu at the Public Seminar and Soft Launching ‘The ASEAN Economic Community: A Work in Progress’, 18 March 2014 in Jakarta.

 

“Indonesia is ready for AEC, especially the tourism sector, with its well-prepared industry, human resource comprehension and qualification on competence standards. One thing to be considered is the external factors, which comprises infrastructure, connectivity, hygiene, cleanness, which until today still become our big homework,” Mari added.

 

In addition, to facilitate tourist visit to ASEAN countries, Common Visa Facility is provided where tourists can enter an ASEAN country through other country with a single visa approval.

In the future, ASEAN projects the country members to be a single destination; therefore promotion is for ASEAN, not only Indonesia, Malaysia or other single country. ASEAN country members become the one tourist destination. For this purpose, ASEAN Common Visa is vital. (Center of Public Communication