TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
International airport reductions disrupt tourism sector
The permanent closure of some international airports is clearly inconsistent with the government’s own prior policies.
Change Size
A Super Air Jet plane touches down at H.AS Hanandjoeddin International Airport on Belitung Island in Bangka-Belitung Province on Sept. 9, 2022. The government has downgraded the airport to a domestic airport. (Antara/Kasmono)
T
he Transportation Ministry’s decision to slash the number of international airports from 34 to just 17 has left many astonished. This decision was signed by Transportation Minister Budi Karya on April 2, but only came to light more than three weeks later.
The long pause has left many wondering: Did the minister doubt his own policy? Or was he wary about the public reaction?
One thing is clear, however. This policy has sparked a multitude of questions and, seemingly, disappointment from various parties. Heads of regions where international airports were demoted to domestic airports, along with their communities, may feel this policy shatters their dreams of advancing their hometowns’ development.
Moreover, Indonesian ambassadors who have strived to promote the country’s tourism industry abroad might find their efforts unappreciated. With the revocation of international status and the absence of direct flights to the destinations they have promoted, the allure of these tourist spots diminishes, even losing their selling point or market value.
The harsh impact of this government policy will profoundly impact tourist destinations that now require a transit through Jakarta. Traffic congestion in Jakarta will turn what should be a leisurely vacation into a headache for travelers, rendering the journey a wasteful and frustrating ordeal.
In the context of certain tourist destinations like Bali, Lombok, Yogyakarta and others not included in the recent cuts, the government’s policy does not apply. However, the question remains: Should only these areas have the privilege of being international tourist destinations?
In 2016, the government announced the Ten New Balis policy, officially known as the Ten Priority Tourism Destinations. Special economic zones (SEZs) for tourism, offering various incentives such as tax relief, were established, including the tourist destination of Tanjung Kelayang on Belitung Island. President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo continued this initiative by constructing international airports in these areas. This clearly demonstrates the government’s commitment to leveraging tourism as a driving force for the national economy.
