There will be many cheap flights from South Korea, China, Japan, Australia, India and other countries. The presence of a low-cost carrier is very important for boosting tourism in Indonesia because many tourists depend on air connectivity. South Korean low-cost carrier Jin Air is reportedly set to fly to Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara using Boeing 777 aircraft.

On Monday, Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) head Thomas “Tom” Lembong told Antara news agency that he had received confirmation regarding the plan from the chairman of Jin Air’s parent company, Korean Air.

“The presence of a low-cost carrier is very important for boosting tourism in Indonesia,” said Tom, adding that although tourism was not a large-scale investment, it served as a very strategic one as it opened work opportunities and created foreign exchange income through foreign tourist visits.

“Good teamwork is needed because many tourists depend on air connectivity. We need this kind of connectivity, particularly low-cost carriers, so that there will be many cheap flights from South Korea, China, Japan, Australia, India and other countries,” he said after a meeting at the Coordinating Maritime Affairs Ministry building in Central Jakarta on Monday.

Tom also mentioned the government’s role in providing infrastructure as an important factor in supporting the strategy. “We also need to make improvements in the airports, as well as the navigation system, so that airplanes will be able to fly even in bad weather.”