Indonesia's WEF tourism competitive index rises to 42

Indonesia ranks 42nd in World Economic Forum (WEF)'s Travel and Tourism Competitive Index (TCCI) in 2017, up from its rankings in 2016 and 2015 of 50th and 70th respectively, according to official announcement on Thursday.

"This is because of strong supports and commitments of President Joko Widodo who puts tourism as an ultimate priority, making it the nation's core economy," Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said on Friday.

The latest rating is essential to further spur the nation's confidence in competing with world-class rivals in tourism industry, he added.

"In 2019, we set a target to see our rating among the best 30 in the world," the minister said.

To attain the target, Indonesia must take herculean efforts in addressing the 14 pillars and four sub sectors monitored in TCCI, the minister said.

Among the 14 pillars were business environment, health and hygiene, international openness, travel and tourism prioritization, environment sustainability, air transport infrastructure, ground and port infrastructure, tourism service infrastructure and natural resources.

Indonesia is now striving to develop tourism sector as it has been set as the nation's core business, replacing oil and gas, coals and palm oil in the past.

Ten new tour destinations were now developed across the country, expected to add more destinations other than resort island of Bali which has been favored by foreign visitors.

Indonesia has set a target to welcome 20 million foreign visitors and earnings of more than 24 billion U.S. dollars from the sector by 2019. Endit