Lawmaker Pushes for Clarity on Tourism Human Resources

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Commission VII of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) lawmaker Samuel Wattimena has urged the government to clarify the direction and targets for human resource development in the tourism sector. He stressed that quality management and readiness are crucial to maximizing Indonesia’s tourism potential.

Samuel noted that Indonesia possesses a wealth and diversity of tourist attractions unmatched by many countries, but said this strength will not yield optimal results without qualified staff and effective management.

“The foundation of Indonesian tourism is very strong: its wealth of diverse attractions. Essentially, no other country has tourist attractions as comprehensive as Indonesia’s. The problem lies in management,” Samuel said after attending a working meeting with the Ministry of Tourism at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Wednesday, June 17, 2026.

He questioned the government’s focus on human resource development, pointing out that jobs in tourism extend beyond management to hospitality, tour guiding, and ensuring tourist safety. Poor service quality, he warned, could negatively affect visitors’ experiences and discourage them from returning.

“If our human resources are not qualified, we must be careful. Tourists could be disappointed by things that are not handled properly by our staff,” he explained.

Samuel highlighted the government’s plan to prepare 1,500 tourism human resource development personnel across various regions. He said the legislature requires a detailed explanation of how these personnel will be distributed.

“We in the legislature, as supervisors, must fully understand these details. So, if 1,500 is considered sufficient, how will they be distributed? Because we have 38 provinces, and 25 of them are included in the human resource development master plan,” he added.

He emphasized that clarity on human resource development targets would help regional administrations understand the direction of tourism sector growth, including in areas not yet prioritized.

In addition to strengthening human resources, Samuel underscored the importance of cross-sector support to accelerate national tourism development. He said transportation connectivity to several key destinations remains a major obstacle that requires inter-ministerial collaboration.

“This needs to be discussed, because tourism will not thrive without transportation connectivity. It’s impossible,” he stressed.

Samuel reiterated that Commission VII supports increasing the tourism sector’s budget, including for human resource development programs, but insisted that requests must be backed by data and clear planning.

Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana previously proposed an additional budget of IDR 1.99 trillion for 2027, arguing that the Ministry’s indicative budget of IDR 1.01 trillion was insufficient to meet the needs of national tourism development.

“We believe that to operate optimally and provide a significant economic impact on the national economy, the Ministry of Tourism requires a budget of IDR 3 trillion,” Minister Widiyanti said. (Misni Parjiati)