Prabowo and Erdogan Share Umbrella in Jakarta Rain During Warm Welcome

TheIndonesia.id - Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan shared umbrellas after the Turkish delegation arrived at Halim Perdanakusuma Airbase in Jakarta on Tuesday evening amidst heavy rainfall.

According to Antara News Agency, the plane carrying President Erdogan and his entourage touched down in the Indonesian capital around 6:30 p.m. local time. Despite the downpour, the welcome ceremony went ahead as scheduled. Dressed in a black suit and a black peci hat, President Prabowo waited as Erdogan and the First Lady disembarked from the plane.

The two leaders greeted each other warmly with a handshake, showcasing the strong relationship between the two nations.

Under two umbrellas, Prabowo, Erdogan, and the First Lady made their way past the honor guards before entering a designated official car, with the Indonesian president sitting beside his Turkish counterpart.

Also present at the ceremony were Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi, Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, and Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya.

Tomorrow, President Prabowo will host a state welcome for President Erdogan at the Bogor Presidential Palace in West Java, according to Yusuf Permana, the deputy for protocol, press, and media at the Presidential Secretariat.

Following the ceremony, the two leaders are set to hold a bilateral meeting to explore potential areas of cooperation aimed at strengthening the relationship between their countries. Erdogan’s state visit will conclude with a luncheon in the palace’s courtyard.

Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Indonesia and Turkey will hold their first High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council meeting, a key bilateral forum chaired by the heads of state.
Explore Solutions to Combat Illegal Levies in the Tourism Industry

The illegal charges arise from the public’s limited understanding of the sustainability of tourism businesses, law enforcement and public education to tackle the problem need to be continued.

The Ministry of Tourism, alongside other key ministries, will establish a dedicated team to address illegal levies at tourist sites.

According Antara News Agency, this was confirmed by Rizki Handyani Mustafa, the ministry’s deputy for industry and investment, during the National Conference of the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (PHRI) held in Bogor on Tuesday.

Mustafa highlighted that illegal levies are still being reported at various tourist attractions across the country. To combat this issue, the ministry has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the police.

She further noted that tourism offices must enter into similar agreements with the Regional Police in their respective regions to strengthen enforcement efforts.

"We are coordinating with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Finance to support this initiative," Mustafa explained.

In addition, tourism industry associations such as the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association (IPHRI) and the Indonesian Tourism Industry Association (GIPI) are expected to play an active role in the efforts to eliminate illegal levies at tourist destinations.

Mustafa emphasized that effective law enforcement and educational campaigns are crucial in raising public awareness about the detrimental effects of illegal levies and working toward their eradication.

Hariyanto, Deputy for Destination and Infrastructure Development at the Ministry of Tourism, explained that these illegal charges arise from the public’s limited understanding of the sustainability of tourism businesses. He stressed the need for continued law enforcement and public education to tackle the problem.

"One of our immediate steps is ensuring collaboration with law enforcement, especially the police, to address these issues," Hariyanto concluded.