Pre-Survey Discussion of Detailed Planning for Human Resource Development in the Tourism Sector between JICA Tokyo, JICA Indonesia Office, and the Faculty of Tourism, Udayana University

On Thursday, February 20 2025, an important meeting took place to discuss the Pre-Survey of Detailed Planning for Human Resource Development (HR) in the tourism sector, involving JICA Tokyo Head Office, JICA Indonesia Office, and the Faculty of Tourism, Udayana University (Unud) which was held at the Faculty of Tourism, Bukit Jimbaran. This meeting was held to further discuss collaboration which is expected to improve human resources in the tourism sector with an agenda accompanied by another agenda, namely a campus tour.

At the meeting, a number of members from JICA Indonesia and JICA Central Tokyo were present. From JICA Indonesia, among others: Mr. Kenji Okamura, Senior Representative, JICA Indonesia Office; Mr Akihito Iwasaki, Representative, JICA Indonesia Office; and Ms. Nazalia Kurnia Dewi, Program Officer, JICA Indonesia Office. Meanwhile, those from JICA Headquarters Tokyo who attended included: Mr. Takafumi Ueda, Senior Advisor; Ms. Yukie Matsui, Associate Expert, JICA Headquarters Tokyo; and Ms. Yukiko Aida, Program Officer, JICA Headquarters Tokyo.

On this occasion, the Faculty of Tourism at Udayana University present included the Dean and Deputy Dean, Study Program Coordinators within the Faculty of Tourism, and the collaboration team at the Faculty of Tourism at Udayana University.

Mr Takafumi Ueda, Senior Advisor from JICA Tokyo Headquarters, said that the main focus handled by JICA is investment, MSME development and tourism sector development. He explained that the purpose of JICA's visit to Indonesia was to follow up on the request of the Ministry of Tourism regarding human resource development in the tourism sector.

Takafumi Ueda added that the main theme in this collaboration is improving human resources in Indonesia, which is Japan's main concern, considering that Japan is facing the challenge of reducing the productive age and the need for human resources in the tourism sector. Currently, many Indonesian workers have been sent to Japan in various sectors, such as elderly care and fisheries, and the Japanese tourism sector also needs human resources from Indonesia. Therefore, the Japanese government hopes to collaborate with Indonesia in terms of providing skilled workers in this field.

JICA wants to ensure that this collaboration is not only limited to sending workers, but also to ensure workers' career advancement after they return to Indonesia. This is to avoid potential abuse of labor that could occur. Mr Ueda emphasized that JICA's main goal is to collaborate in improving human resources in the tourism sector to prevent these problems and provide benefits for both countries.

It is important for JICA to understand how collaboration can be carried out well, and how this contribution can help the development of the tourism sector in Indonesia and Japan. The next discussion will focus on developing a cooperation model that can create long-term positive impacts for both countries, both in terms of human resource development and improving the quality of the tourism sector as a whole.

The Unud Faculty of Tourism welcomed the results of the discussion and hopes that in the future more alumni will be able to work in Japan. "We hope that this discussion will be the first step in closer cooperation in the future, especially between the faculty and JICA," said the Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, Udayana University.