TEHRAN – Iran and Indonesia can develop close ties by promoting cooperation in tourism, a senior Malaysian official told the Tehran Times in an interview.
Dedi Ahmad Kurniah, Deputy Director of International Tourism Marketing, India’s Ministry of Tourism, said the historical and cultural similarities between the two countries provide a strong basis for the joint initiative.
He said promoting access, strengthening media exchange and developing joint tourism packages will help expand cooperation and shape future relationships.
Historical and cultural background
At the beginning of the interview, an official from Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism mentioned the historical roots between the two countries:
“Even during the reign of the Minangkabau Kingdom, I have heard that there was a close relationship between Persian and Indonesian lands. This cultural and historical intimacy is a valuable asset that can be revived in a new form of modernity.”
He continued. “History is full of commonalities between the two countries. These similarities in themselves are a great opportunity to begin broader cooperation. From this shared past we can build a framework for future cooperation in the fields of culture, economy and tourism.”
Tourism, Understanding and Peace Tools
According to the Indonesian official, the tourism industry is more than just economic activity. He said: “We believe tourism can be an effective tool for world peace. When nations get to know each other closely and understand each other’s cultural values, there is a preparation of grounds for reducing misunderstanding and increasing global solidarity. With their rich history and culture, Iran and Indonesia have the ability to present them through a model of peace and friendship at the tourism, an international level.”
Future obstacles and hope for the future
Officials highlighted the challenges of the development of tourism between nations, particularly between Iran and Indonesia. He explained:
“Specific issues such as security, regulatory reforms, and immigration law updates remain challenges that require dialogue and joint collaboration. But fortunately, for the current period, Indonesia’s Ministry of Immigration functions as an independent institution.
According to him, Indonesia is striving to simplify and accelerate the tourism entry process by using digital technology to launch an online immigration system.
“Today, some countries, including ASEAN members and around 60-70 countries, benefit from special immigration facilities. We hope that in the near future Iranian tourists will be able to travel to Indonesia more easily.”
Joint Tourism Package: From Ideas to Implementation
Indonesian tourism officials pointed to one practical measure to expand relations with Iran. “One quick way to start working together is to design a joint tourism package. Iranian journalists can invite you to showcase your Indonesian attractions.
He expressed his hope that the process would ultimately lead to the formation of a joint tour between Iran and Indonesia. “Following these exchanges, Iranian and Indonesian companies can work together to design joint travel packages, which include Indonesians and Indonesians traveling to Iran.
Media and the bridge between the nation
In his view, the media plays an important role in introducing tourism attractions and strengthening mutual understanding between nations.
“Whether it’s digital media or traditional media such as print or websites, it can serve as an important tool for collaboration. Through content exchanges, publication of reports, and introductions to attractions, it can strengthen the familiarity of people from both countries. Such media collaboration can raise tourist interest and strengthen cultural relations.”
Indonesia’s experience during the pandemic
In the continuation of the interview, he mentioned Indonesia’s experience during the Covid-19 pandemic, saying:
“The pandemic has caused serious stagnation in the tourism industry around the world. However, Indonesia was able to begin recovery faster than many other countries. One reason for this success was the strategy pursued by then-Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno.
He continued. “In the conditions of widespread restrictions, we were forced to adapt to a new environment. Companies had to innovate. They used digital methods, while at the same time, cooperation between governments, universities, the private sector and civil society has become extremely important.
Focus on domestic tourism and digital innovation
Officials added: “It played a key role in our success. The first was to pay special attention to health standards and the second was to focus on domestic tourism. Given the large population of Indonesia, attracting domestic tourists has allowed us to revive the tourism economy early.
The link between Indonesian culture and nature
In another part of the interview, he mentioned the geography and nature’s influence on Indonesian culture.
“Indonesia is a country where culture is strongly shaped by nature. People who live near the sea have a different culture than people who live in mountainous regions. This nature and cultural diversity makes Indonesia a unique destination for tourists.”
He then pointed out the geographical differences between Iran and Indonesia and said he addressed a journalist for the Tehran Times:
“You said you were born in an area of Iran where winter brings snow and freezing weather. For us who live in the equator, this is a completely different experience as we don’t see snow in Indonesia.
He smiled and said, “As you know about Iran’s tourism,” he said: “To be honest, I didn’t know much about Iran. Only when I heard there was snow I realized how unique your natural diversity is. These differences are that the existence of Iran and Indonesia’s oceans is the basis for curiosity, mutual understanding, and even tourism cooperation between the two nations.”
Conclusion
Finally, the Deputy Vice-Chair of the Communication Strategy of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism once again emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two countries.
“We believe that Iran and Indonesia can build stable and profound relationships by leveraging shared history and culture, innovative tourism packages and media cooperation. We believe that such relationships will not only benefit people from both countries, but also serve as a global model for adopting tourism as a tool for peace and coexistence.”