Indonesia has a very large halal tourism potential. Indonesia’s halal tourism potential is owned by many provinces. Three provice which has already been known is West Nusa Tenggara (NTB), West Sumatera, and Aceh. Beside those three destination, there are many other provinces that hold halal tourism potential that is very attractive and has the opportunity to become a global halal tourist destination.Seeing Indonesia’s enourmous halal tourism potential, it is not surprising that many foreign investors are intereseted in investing in the tourism sector, especially halal tourism in Indonesia. One of them is an investor from Malaysia
In The 1st North Maluku International Business Forum which was held in Ternate, North Maluku, April 16-17 2017, Malaysia sent a group of investors. Chairman of the International Division of the Malay Trade Council Malaysia, Datuk Jalam Asyahidan said he brought several Malaysian businessmen who were in line with the potential in North Maluku.
Jamal claimed to pay special attention to the halal tourism sector. He and several countries in Southeast Asia including Indonesia built the Global Halal Travel consortium. In this consortium, Indonesian businessman Riyanto Sofyan (chairman of Sofyan Corporation) was appointed as commissioner. “We want to develop the market, especially in Southeast Asia. We invite Thailand, the Philippines, Brunei and Singapore to develop Global Halal Travel,” Jamal said in Ternate on Sunday (16/4).
Moreover, the natural potential of North Maluku is considered by Jamal to be quite capable. “North Maluku is still natural, there are still many potentials that can be developed. Halal tourism will be very suitable especially for the majority of the Muslim population,” Jamal said.
Previously, Saudi Arabian investors were also suspected of being interested in halal tourism investment in West Sumatra. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said that Saudi Arabia was interested in entering the West Sumatra tourism sector. One of the favored destinations is Mandeh, which is called the Raja Ampat of Sumatra.
“I was instructed by the Vice President to make a proposal for West Sumatra, because indeed they were very interested,” Arief said after a tourism coordination meeting at the Office of the Vice President, Jakarta, Friday (3/3).
Arief explained, West Sumatra was chosen because it had become halal tourism along with Lombok and Aceh which offered friendly tourism. In addition, Saudi Arabia is also interested in NTB and Tanjung Kelayang, Bangka Belitung.
The same thing was expressed by the Head of the Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM), Thomas Trikasih Lembong. He said the implementation of the Construction Direct Investment Facility (KLIK) for the next wave will focus more on the service sector, one of which is tourism.
The government plans to offer the development of sharia tourist areas in Sumatra to interested investors, such as Saudi Arabia. “Saudi Arabia is interested in developing tourism in the western part of Indonesia, such as West Sumatra and Belitong,” Lembong said in Nusa Dua, Bali, Wednesday (2/22). )
Lembong said the concept of developing a sharia tourist area in Sumatra made use of Indonesia’s geographical proximity to Malaysia and Singapore. Malaysia successfully attracted the highest visits from foreign tourists (tourists) from Middle Eastern countries. “If we work together, we can offer additional destinations, such as Belitong, Bukit Tinggi, and Padang,” Lembong said.
Investors from the Middle East are reportedly interested in developing halal tourism in Mandalika’s Special Economic Zone (KEK), Central Lombok. Several ambassadors and investors from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt have reviewed the Mandalika SEZ and expressed their interest in investing.
