Indonesia tourism posts losses of over 7 billion USD due to COVID-19
The tourism sector of Indonesia has fallen into deep difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, with losses incurring so far amounting to around 7 billion USD.
Jakarta (VNA) – The tourism sector of Indo▨nesia hasfallen into deep difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, withlosses incurri🎉ng so far amounting to around 7 billion USD.
The number of foreign visitors to Indonesia in October thisyear, though picking up 4.57 percent from the previous month, showed a decreaseof 88.25 percent from the same period last year to 158,200, according to thecountry’s statistics agency BPS. Statisticsof the Indonesian Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI) showed thesector shrank 11.86 percent in October year on year. About 78.5 percent of theworkforce of the hotel industry have lost their jobs. Deputy chairman of PHRI Maulana Yusran said hotels now mainlyserve domestic travellers, noting hotels in Bali reported the lowest occupancyrate in the country in October, equivalent to only 9.53 percent of the rate inOctober 2019. Before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, Indonesia expected towelcome 18 million foreign visitors in 2020, compared to 16.1 millioninternational arrivals in 2019.
However, in the first 10 months of this year, there were only3.72 million foreign visitors, down 72.35 percent year on year.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy PrabuRevolusi said the country aims to welcome 13-14 mi✤llion foreign tourists nextyear. The goal is feasible, he said, adding that Indonesia has set up tourismcorridors with China, Singapore and the Republic of Korea, and is engaging in talkswith Japan on a similar move./.
More than three-fourths of workers in Indonesia who had to leave their job since May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic have returned to work, according to Indonesian Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani.
The Indonesian Government plans to monitor its fish exports to China more strictly after the latter imposed a series of import suspensions over concerns about coronavirus contamination.
Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Ibnu Hadi has been awarded with the Friendship Order of the Vietnamese State for his contributions to the bilateral ties.
Bank Indonesia (BI) sees bank lending to expand by 7 - 9 percent next year on the back of low-interest rates and recovery in the economy, according to its Governor Perry Warjiyo.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
A quiet resort in Bali (Photo: Nikkei) 
