JAKARTA – President of the World Tourism Forum Institute (WTFI), Bulut Bagci applauds the Indonesian government’s commitment to revitalize the tourism sector and its choice to hold the Global Tourism Forum (GTF) in Indonesia is very appropriate.
Speaking at the GTF press conference at the Raffles Hotel, Jakarta, Bagci said that Indonesia’s commitment was very clear and felt directly by his entourage since landing at Soekarno-Hatta airport yesterday.
As a first step for holding a global event in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Indonesian government is very clear in treating foreign delegates specifically with good field coordination and eliminating quarantine obligations so that they can immediately hold press conferences.
“My current presence at the Raffles Hotel Jakarta venue for a press conference the day before the event starts is thanks to commitment from Indonesia as a host, so we will also continue to support Indonesia in various international tourism forums,” said Bulut Bagci.
The press conference, which was attended by national and international press, presented Sapta Nirwandar, chairman of the Indonesia Tourism Forum (ITF) who was appointed as the organizer of this grand event. In addition, there was also the Minister of Tourism & Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno and Sumaira Issac, CEO of WTFI through a midnight zoom meeting directly from Toronto, Canada.
Sapta Nirwandar reported that the number of speakers until the last second became 49 international speakers including Taleb Rifai, former Secretary General of UNWTO who is now Secretary General of WTFI and Tony Blair, former British PM. While the speakers from the country as many as 22 people consisting of CEOs and leaders of the tourism industry associations in the country.
The Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, who started the press conference with two Indonesian and English versions of the poem, which essentially revealed the importance of collaboration to restart tourism and build quality tourism. After that, Sandi explained in detail the CHSE or Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environment Sustainability activities that have been carried out to make Indonesia a safe tourist destination with high health outcomes.
Tourism and creative economy actors which include tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, toilets and others must also have certification to gradually reopen. In addition, there is also a seriousness for the implementation of vaccination in all tourism stakeholders.
Sandi, who wore typical clothes from his native region, Gorontalo, also explained super priority tourist destinations, investment opportunities to visa facilities as well as a number of international activities in Indonesia next year such as the G-20 Summit, APEC Tourism Working Group 2022 and other events.
In line with Balut Bagci, Sumaira Issac, as CEO of WTFI, also revealed that the 2021 GTF option will still be held in Indonesia because it follows the seriousness of the Indonesian government for the revival of its tourism as a driving force for the economy.
“From the bottom of my heart I thank you for organizing this event and we really appreciate the government’s commitment, especially Vice President Ma’fuf Amin who will open the official event tomorrow and also thanks to Sapta Nirwandar.
“Tourism is an economic driver where we must have an emotional connection as well. WTFI should consider making a real event (offline) again in Indonesia next year,” said Sumaira Issac. He believes there is a guarantee of success because world tourism events need an all-out host between the government, the private sector and the community as was done at the GTF 2021 which will take place on September 15-16 in a hybrid manner.
“It’s like holding the GTF in Jakarta is an ice breaker, we will make another big event in Bali, ahead of the G20 Summit for example,” Bulut Bagci, President of WTFI affirmed his commitment to assist Indonesia in international tourism forums, including encouraging investors in existing priority destinations.
“This GTF event in Indonesia is the first time also in the Asian region because Indonesia is more brilliant both for investors and for foreign tourists,” said Bulut.
According to him, Indonesia is lucky to have Menparekraf Sandiaga Uno, who appears wearing traditional Gorontalo clothes, spreads positive energy through rhymes, encourages people to travel, sees the beauty of the country as much as possible and reminds him to observe.
Bulut Bagci admitted that he was impressed with the readiness of the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy in terms of introducing traditional costumes and explaining the uniqueness of culture in a short time. Even the background of the webinar in the form of posters of super priority destinations makes it easier for us to understand how rich Indonesia is.
“That’s a really cool way to promote Indonesian tourism to the world. As an illustration, the GTF hybrid event is usually attended by at least a thousand people because tourism starts from the waiter level at the hotel to the ministerial level. We hope that the GTF webinar sessions in Jakarta this time will also be attended by participants and resource persons from various parts of the world,” he said.
Anang Fadhilah
