Bandung: The Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Indonesia (Menpora RI), Erick Thohir, stated that the Ministry of Youth and Sports, along with other ministries, has agreed to strengthen the national sports ecosystem and make the sports and sports tourism industries part of the new economy.
Menpora Erick made this statement while attending the Satria Muda Pertamina Bandung Official Team and Jersey Launch 2026 at the C-Tra Arena Sports Hall in Bandung, West Java, on Monday (January 5). "My presence here aligns with the Ministry's policy direction, which currently has a Deputy for Sports Tourism and International Relations," he said.
According to him, the Deputy for Sports Tourism and International Relations was only established a few months ago, with the goal of making the sports and sports tourism industries centers of new economic growth. This idea was also agreed upon across ministries during the previous Indonesia Sport Summit.
"Yesterday, when I held the Indonesia Sport Summit, I hoped that all stakeholders in the sports and sports tourism industries could become centers of new economic growth," explained Menpora Erick.
"And thank God, yesterday, Minister Abdul Mu'ti from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Elementary and Secondary Education and Training, all attended. We agreed that the sports industry could be a centerpiece of the new economy, including sports tourism," he added.
Minister of Youth and Sports Erick also opened up the possibility of collaboration with local governments, particularly the city of Bandung, which he believes has great potential to be developed as a sports tourism city. He assessed that the local government also has a strong commitment to supporting this development.
"Thank God, Mr. Farhan (Mayor of Bandung) is committed, and Bandung itself has great potential to become a sports tourism city, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports can collaborate on this. I also support several local brands, and I will visit their factories because it creates jobs," he explained.
"So, I'm doing this, just like in North Sumatra, East Java, and Jakarta. This is because there is new economic growth in the sports industry, not just the creative industry. Because sports are closely related to the creative industry," the Minister concluded.
Meanwhile, Bandung Mayor Farhan expressed his gratitude for the Minister's trust and hoped that West Java would be able to contribute more internationally successful athletes in the future. "We ask for your prayers and support. West Java will also build a sports school like the one in Ragunan (Jakarta)," added Bandung Mayor Farhan.