Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Indonesia)
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| Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Indonesia) | |
|---|---|
| Agency name | Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy |
| Native name | Kementerian Pariwisata dan Ekonomi Kreatif |
| Formed | 2009 (as combined ministry) |
| Preceding1 | State Ministry of Tourism |
| Preceding2 | State Ministry of Culture and Tourism |
| Jurisdiction | Indonesia |
| Headquarters | Jakarta |
| Minister | Sandiaga Uno |
Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy (Indonesia) is a cabinet-level ministry responsible for developing tourism in Indonesia and promoting the creative industries sector across Indonesia. The ministry coordinates with national agencies such as the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime and Investment Affairs, regional administrations like provincial governments of Bali, Yogyakarta Special Region, and national planning bodies including Bappenas to implement policies that affect destinations such as Komodo National Park, Borobudur Temple Compounds, and Raja Ampat Islands.
History
The ministry's antecedents include the Department of Tourism and the State Ministry of Culture and Tourism formed during the Suharto era, evolving through cabinet reshuffles under presidents B. J. Habibie, Abdurrahman Wahid, and Megawati Sukarnoputri. In the 2000s the ministry merged functions after initiatives by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's administration and later restructurings under Joko Widodo formalized the combined portfolio integrating creative sectors inspired by models from South Korea, United Kingdom, and Japan. Major milestones include campaigns tied to international events such as the 2018 Asian Games, pilgrimages linked to Hajj infrastructure discussions, and conservation collaborations following the designation of sites like Gunung Leuser National Park and Tanjung Puting National Park.
Organization and Leadership
The ministry is led by a minister appointed in the Working Cabinet or Onward Indonesia Cabinet with deputies overseeing directorates modeled after ministerial structures in United Kingdom and Australia. Key bureaus coordinate with agencies such as the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Transportation, Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, and regulatory bodies like the Indonesian National Police for safety protocols. The organizational chart includes directorates for destination development, creative economy, marketing, and infrastructure working with provincial tourism offices in West Java, East Java, North Sumatra, and municipal governments in Jakarta.
Responsibilities and Functions
Mandated functions encompass destination promotion for sites like Bali, Lombok, Bintan, stewardship of cultural heritage such as Prambanan, and nurturing sectors within the creative economy including film industry, fashion, culinary arts, music industry, and digital economy start-ups. The ministry formulates policies affecting visa facilitation in coordination with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, public health protocols with the Ministry of Health, and disaster response planning in liaison with the BNPB. Regulatory responsibilities interface with trade policy led by the Ministry of Trade and intellectual property protections administered by the Directorate General of Intellectual Property.
Policies and Programs
Notable initiatives include national marketing campaigns referencing Wonderful Indonesia, sustainable tourism frameworks influenced by UNESCO conventions applied to Borobudur, skills development programs with institutions such as Universitas Gadjah Mada and Institut Teknologi Bandung, and creative economy incubators collaborating with Bank Indonesia and private sector partners like Garuda Indonesia, Tourism Ministry's marketing agencies, and trade associations. Programmatic responses to crises have included pandemic-era protocols aligned with the World Health Organization, recovery packages coordinated with the Ministry of Finance, and promotion of events like the Java Jazz Festival and Bali Arts Festival to stimulate cultural tourism.
Tourism and Creative Economy Development Zones
The ministry designates priority destinations such as the 10 New Balis initiative, targeting regions including Labuan Bajo, Likely Lombok, Manado, and Lake Toba to diversify visitation away from Bali. Development corridors intersect with conservation areas managed under the Ministry of Environment and Forestry and infrastructure projects linked to the Trans-Sumatra Toll Road and Trans-Java Toll Road. Creative economy hubs are promoted in urban centers like Surabaya, Bandung, Medan, and Makassar supported by creative district models seen in South Korea and Singapore.
Partnerships and International Cooperation
The ministry engages in bilateral and multilateral cooperation with entities including the ASEAN Secretariat, UNESCO World Heritage Centre, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and national tourism boards of Australia, China, Japan, and the United States Department of Commerce. Public–private partnerships involve airlines such as Lion Air and AirAsia as well as hospitality groups like Accor, Marriott International, and local associations such as the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies (ASITA). Collaboration extends to cultural diplomacy through exchanges with institutions like the British Council and initiatives under the G20 framework.
Criticism and Controversies
Critiques focus on land-use conflicts in development projects affecting indigenous communities in regions such as Papua, environmental concerns at sites like Komodo National Park and Mount Rinjani, and tensions over mass tourism in Bali provoking debates involving activists from Greenpeace and scholars from Universitas Indonesia. Policy controversies have included debates over infrastructure priorities tied to the sea toll program and disputes regarding intellectual property and commercialisation of traditional arts involving regional cultural custodians and ministries like the Ministry of Home Affairs.