PROMOTION OF TOURISM AS AN IMPLEMENTATION OF INDONESIA’S ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY POLICY TOWARDS PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC) UNDER PRESIDENT JOKO WIDODO’S ADMINISTRATION (2016 – 2018)

Abstract

Economic globalization that present in this contemporary era increasingly making the role of economic diplomacy as one of the important instruments in foreign policy. The practice of economic diplomacy could be identified through 4 Phases; Salesmanship, Networking, Image Building, and Regulatory Management. Indonesia is no exception on this regard, during Joko Widodo’s first administration economic diplomacy is sets as primary instrument of Indonesia foreign policy in order to achieve national interest and economic benefits. This study explores that Indonesian government has utilized its tourism sector along its economic diplomacy practice, notably towards People’s Republic of China (PRC). The source of data collection related to the research being conducted will be from the official report, and publication from Ministry of Tourism of Indonesia. The recent years show that Indonesia has experienced a significant growth on tourist arrivals from PRC, and this study believed that this achievement resulted from the bold action of tourism promotion conducted by Indonesia government. Indonesia’s tourism promotion program to People’s Republic of China (PRC) mainly consist of exhibitions, sales mission and festivals. Within 2016 – 2018, it is found that there were 45 activities of tourism promotion conducted by Indonesia to People’s Republic of China. Analysis by the author shows that among 45 tourism promotion activity conducted by Indonesian government to PRC 2016 – 2018 has reflected the phase 2 and phase 3 of economic diplomacy. Out of 45 of tourism promotion program, there are 35 programs reflected the conduct of phase 2 and 45 programs reflected the conduct of phase 3 economic diplomacy.