Indonesia Boosts Travel With More Airports

Indonesia has doubled its number of international airports in a bid to boost tourism and economic growth under President Prabowo Subianto, reversing a policy set last year by predecessor Joko Widodo’s administration that halved

the number to control costs.

The government on Tuesday ascribed international status to 40 airports, up from 22 previously. The move adds airports in densely populated East Java province and strategic industrial locations like Weda Bay and Morowali Industrial Park — key hubs for nickel production.

Airports must first prepare immigration, customs and quarantine services and comply with international safety standards before accepting overseas flights, Transportation Ministry Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa

said in a statement.

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“The international status of an airport carries no small responsibility,” he said.

The expansion reflects President Prabowo’s recent directive for officials to maximize direct international flights nationwide to stimulate regional tourism and business across the archipelago nation.

The previous administration last year halved the number of international airports to 17, in part to curb costs. Officials said then that

only five of Indonesia’s international airports, including Jakarta and Bali, operated regular overseas flights to various countries, while the rest offered only limited routes or none at all.

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