Malang, June 29th 2022 - Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy/Head of Tourism and Creative Economy (Menparekraf), Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno, responded positively to the launch of the Smart Tourism and Infrastructure Hospitality application providing complete information about tourism and creative economy in Malang, ranging from tourism destinations to culinary.

Attending the “Smart Tourism & Infrastructure Hospitality” launching at Merdeka Malang University, Wednesday (29/6/2022), Minister Sandiaga said, the smart tourism and infrastructure hospitality application is an exact step to advance Indonesia’s tourism and creative economy Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).

ICT is one of the assessment pillars in the “Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI)”. In 2021, Indonesia was ranked 32 in the world or up 8 places from the previous position (rank 40).

“Smart tourism and infrastructure hospitality are part of the Penta helix collaboration to improve one of the tourism indicators. I appreciate this step because the smart tourism and infrastructure hospitality can advance Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) to support creating 1.1 million new employment opportunities this year,” according to Minister Sandiaga.

Minister Sandiaga considered that the smart tourism and infrastructure hospitality could help increase the income of tourism and creative economy actors as technology can open up multiple employment opportunities.

“Hopefully, all stakeholders in the tourism and creative economy sector can continue to strive to follow the rapid development of technology to help recover Indonesian tourism and creative economy after the COVID-19 pandemic,” Minister Sandiaga added.

Minister Sandiaga conveyed that the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the global tourism industry, including Indonesia. It affects the tourism development which is now shifting from mass tourism to quality tourism.

Quality tourism is not only answering how good tourism quality standards can be realized and developed, but also how it can integrate tourism elements, such as attractions,

accessibility, amenities, management, activities, services, as well as guarantee for tourists safety and health.

Moreover, demographics changes, technological advances, and changes in consumer behavior are also shaping a new direction for the tourism industry. One of them is digitalization. The digital tourism trend is a big leap for the tourism and creative economy sector in Indonesia.

“Tourists begin to shift to digital. Their activities from planning the trips, pre-on-post journey, are mostly carried out digitally. Therefore, smart tourism and infrastructure hospitality are crucial in the current era,” Minister Sandiaga continued.

Accompanying Minister Sandiaga were the Deputy for Industry and Investment of the MOTCE, Henky Hotma Parlindungan Manurung; Director for Destination Management, Indra Ni Tua; Special Staff to the Minister on Tourism Destination Security and Strategic Issues, Brigadier General Ario Prawiseso; and Special Staff to the Minister on Monitoring and Evaluation of Strategic and Priority Policies, Panji Gurnadi Danuhusodo.

Also attending the occasion, the Mayor of Batu City, Dewanti Rumpoko; General Chairperson of the Management of the Malang Merdeka University Foundation, Col. (Purn) H. Toegino Sokarno; and the Rector of the Merdeka Malang University, Anwar Sanusi.

I Gusti Ayu Dewi Hendriyani

Head of Communication Bureau

Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy/Tourism and Creative Economy Agency