SEMARANG - To support the tourism world in Central Java Province in achieving the target of 500 thousand foreign tourists visit, Ahmad Yani Semarang Airport of Angkasa Pura Airports held Focus Group Discussion (FGD) entitled Collaborative Destination Development (CDD) with theme "Sustainable Collaboration to Achieve 500 Thousand Foreign Tourist Visit in Central Java", at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Semarang, Thursday (16/10). This activity was a follow up of Semarang CDD held in December 2016. This event involved the stakeholders of Central Java tourism, such as Central Java Tourism Office, Semarang City Government, Indonesian Association of Hotels & Restaurants (PHRI), Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agent (ASITA), airline representative, representative of Perum LPPNPI, TNI, and business partner Ahmad Yani Airport Semarang.
CDD is a collaborative forum that brings together various tourism industry stakeholders initiated by Angkasa Pura Airports since 2015. CDD aims to support the development of regional tourism potential in the central and eastern regions of Indonesia, so that the tourism sector can serve as a motor of regional development and improve the welfare of society widely .
"Angkasa Pura Airports as airport manager who is a tourist gateway in the tourism industry has contributed to realize air connectivity. Through collaboration with stakeholders of Central Java tourism through this CDD, we are confident that we will be able to bring positive impact to the development of tourism and regional economy," said by Angkasa Pura Airports President Director Danang S. Baskoro.
In line with Danang S. Baskoro, Director of Marketing and Service of Pura Airports Moch. Asrori said that airport managers should initiate cooperation and coordination with all tourism business actors and related agencies in developing and growing the regional tourism industry. "Central Java has great potential to continue to increase tourist arrivals. Until September 2017, there were 137,496 foreign tourists visiting Ahmad Yani Airport, up 31.34% compared to 2016. If we see the growth of foreign tourists visit, we are optimistic that the target of 500 thousand foreign tourists in 2025 in Central Java can be achieved," added by Moch. Asrori.
For information, 2016 data shows that Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang served 4.2 million passengers, growing 15% compared to the number of passengers in 2015 of which only 3.8 million people.
As a follow-up to the previous year's CDD in Semarang, Angkasa Pura Airports through its Corporate Social Responsibility program has provided training for guides in Central Java to support the development and growth of tourism in Central Java. In addition, Tourism Forum of Central Java Province, headed by Vice Mayor of Semarang with members of Head of Culture and Tourism Office of Central Java Province, General Manager of Angkasa Pura Airports Branch of Ahmad Yani Airport Semarang, Chairman of PHRI, Chairman of ASITA, Chairman of IMA, and others -other.
Culture and Tourism Office of Central Java Province itself targets until the end of 2017 visits 34.1 million domestic tourists (wisnus) to Central Java and 430,000 foreign tourists. By 2025, the number of wisnus visits is targeted at 39.4 million people and 500,000 foreign tourists.
"Angkasa Pura Airports supports what has been targeted by the Central Java Provincial Government to proactively offer new routes to and from airports managed by Angkasa Pura Airports for global airlines and provide incentives in the form of rebates or eliminate landing costs. In addition to welcome tourists we always strive to maintain and improve service standards for airport service users to realize excellent service. We hope Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang in the future can increase," added by Moch. Asrori.
With good collaboration between airport operators, airlines, travel agents and local governments, it is expected that the development of tourism industry in Central Java can grow and continue to grow to provide a positive impact on the regional economy. [AD]
