TOURISM DIPLOMACY BETWEEN INDONESIA AND PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC) : THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MARINE TOURISM IN NORTH SULAWESI AS A CASE STUDY (2015-2017)

Abstract

The relations between Indonesia and China in the tourism sector are very good under the leadership of Joko Widodo. Tourism is Indonesia’s soft power in running its cooperation with China. Tourism Diplomacy is a media used by Indonesia in improving the development of Indonesia’s tourism sector. Tourism is a sector that contributes greatly to the Indonesian economy. The government of North Sulawesi is one of the parties who rely on the importance of the tourism sector in cooperation with China. Tourism diplomacy through tourism promotion and cooperation with several parties such as China ravel agents, MM Travel, Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air, and Citilink is the strategy of North Sulawesi government in developing Chinese tourist visit in North Sulawesi. The development of these visits continues to occur from 2015 until 2017. With the increase of Chinese tourists visit, then the investment was entered in North Sulawesi. This shows how successful the tourism diplomacy of the North Sulawesi government against China. Qualitative Research is used by writer to describe books, journals, government reports, official sites, and news.