Indonesia Trains Migrant Workers As Cultural Ambassadors Abroad

By Mohd Iswandi Kasan Anuar

JAKARTA, July 15 (Bernama) -- Indonesia has launched a new hospitality training initiative to empower outbound migrant workers as informal cultural ambassadors, aiming to enhance the nation’s image abroad through skills and soft diplomacy.

Jointly implemented by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry for the Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (P2MI), the “Wonderful Indonesia Hospitality Skills” programme will provide basic training in customer service, cross-cultural communication, and personal presentation.

The initiative aims to boost workers’ confidence and professionalism in international settings, equipping them to carry the values and culture of Indonesia wherever they go.

“Through this initiative, we want our workers to not only succeed professionally but also carry the values and culture of Indonesia wherever they go,” said Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana in a statement.

The collaboration was formalised with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two ministries in Central Jakarta on Monday.

Widiyanti emphasised the growing influence of Indonesia’s diaspora in shaping global perceptions of the country.

“They bring Indonesia’s image to all corners of the world, becoming a bridge for culture and soft diplomacy through everyday interactions in their host countries,” she said.

The Tourism Ministry also plans to align its Tourism Village programme with P2MI’s EMAS Migrant Village initiative, which highlights local culture, natural attractions, and traditional knowledge as part of broader community development efforts.

P2MI Minister Abdul Kadir Karding welcomed the partnership, citing strong demand abroad for workers with hospitality and spa-related skills.

“This collaboration is key to improving the competence and welfare of our migrant workers,” he said.

Speaking at a press briefing earlier this year, Karding said P2MI aims to deploy 425,000 migrant workers overseas in 2025, up from nearly 300,000 in 2024.

In 2024, Indonesian migrant workers, often referred to locally as ‘foreign exchange heroes’, remitted IDR 251 trillion (approximately US$15.6 billion), contributing 0.36 per cent to national economic growth.

-- BERNAMA