Minister of Youth and Sports (Menpora), Erick Thohir, is pushing for a paradigm shift in managing the sports sector in the country. According to him, sports should no longer be viewed merely as a state expenditure burden, but must be optimized into a strategic sector capable of generating national revenue.
Erick emphasized that the economic potential of the sports sector, particularly through sports tourism, remains underutilized. In fact, amid the government's focus on industrial downstreaming and natural resource utilization, this sector plays a crucial role in strengthening the country's image while boosting foreign exchange earnings.
Global data shows that the sports tourism industry makes a massive contribution with total revenue reaching IDR 9,800 trillion, accompanied by a consistent annual growth rate of eight percent. Erick views these figures as an opportunity that must be synergized into Indonesia's broader economic strategy.
In welcoming the national economic growth target of eight percent, Erick stressed that sports tourism must now be included in national development policy priorities. This step is expected to create a more inclusive and sustainable economic ecosystem through asset optimization and the hosting of various international sporting events.
