On Thursday, 5 September 2024, the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities of Palestine, Hani Naji Abdalmasih Al-Hayek, also known as Mr. Hani, visited YARSI University in Jakarta. This visit was part of Mr. Hani’s work trip to Indonesia at the invitation of the Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy, Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno. During his visit, Mr. Hani expressed his gratitude to the Indonesian people and government for their significant support for Palestine, especially in the tourism sector. He emphasized that Indonesia, as a country that has been independent for 79 years, has contributed to supporting Palestinian independence.
This visit also provided an opportunity to establish further relationships and cooperation between Indonesia and Palestine. In a meeting with Minister Sandi, both parties signed a cooperation agreement that includes strengthening collaboration in technology, information, and human resource development (HR), including student exchange programs. Mr. Hani explained that the potential for collaboration between the two countries is vast, especially in developing tourism and creative economy sectors. He also discussed the religious tourism sites in Palestine that could attract Indonesian tourists, particularly after the borders reopen. Mr. Hani hopes that the number of Indonesian tourists visiting Palestine can increase to 100,000 and that Indonesian travelers can enter Palestine via Jordan while performing Umrah.
During his visit to YARSI University, Mr. Hani shared the current situation in Palestine, which still faces significant challenges due to ongoing occupation and prolonged conflict. He described the dire situation in Gaza, where more than 80% of the infrastructure has been destroyed, and many Palestinians are living in difficult conditions. Despite this, he remains optimistic about the support from the Indonesian community, who continue to visit Palestine. At the end of the visit, Mr. Hani expressed his appreciation to YARSI University and its leadership. He hopes that more Palestinian students can study in Indonesia, especially to learn the Indonesian language to support the tourism sector.
The visit concluded with a warm welcome from the university’s leadership, including the Vice Rector I, Dr. dr. Wening Sari, M.Kes, and other faculty members and students present. This visit aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely SDG 4 (Quality Education) to enhance educational access for Palestinian students in Indonesia, SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) to develop the tourism sector that can improve Palestine’s economy, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) to strengthen collaboration between Indonesia and Palestine in various fields. Thus, this visit not only strengthens bilateral relations but also opens opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation in various sectors, especially tourism and education.
