SEAToday.com, Jakarta - Indonesia’s Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Erick Thohir, has initiated the formation of a Project Management Office (PMO) to tackle the issue of high airfare prices and bolster national tourism. The PMO aims to align policies across ministries to create a unified solution to these pressing concerns.

Erick met with Minister of Tourism Widiyanti Putri Wardhana on Thursday, (10/31/2024), following discussions with the Minister of Transportation earlier in the week. “We’ll form a joint team to provide solutions. In the past, it was called a task force; now, it’s a PMO, with the same goal of harmonizing all policies into a single, impactful decision,” said Erick, as reported by ANTARA.

The PMO will focus on collaborative approaches among ministries, recognizing that effective solutions require comprehensive, cross-departmental support. Erick highlighted the necessity of working together, as tourism-related challenges cannot be resolved in isolation. “It’s impossible to work separately on this,” he stated.

Minister Widiyanti emphasized the significance of cross-ministerial collaboration in making travel to tourist destinations more accessible and affordable. She pointed out that lower airfare would encourage both domestic and international tourists to visit Indonesia. “Affordable airfare and improved accessibility are essential to boost tourist visits,” she explained.

The PMO is expected to begin policy reviews in the coming weeks, aiming to establish a foundation for long-term solutions. Erick noted, “Within one or two weeks, the team should be formed and ready to assess policies for effective implementation.”

Writer: Fariz Ahmad Luthfi