Jakarta. Tourism Minister Sandiaga Uno said on Friday that the 2023 BNI Java Jazz, an annual music festival that brings together artists from both home and abroad, would be a boon for job creation.

“We estimate that 2023 BNI Java Jazz can generate jobs for 10,000 people, both directly and indirectly. So this is massive,” Sandiaga told a news conference in Jakarta on Friday.

The 2023 BNI Java Jazz is expected to drive up people’s economies, be it the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and creative economy, according to Sandiaga. The minister added that the four-day event also involved 400 people from the music industry overseas. They have all landed in Indonesia to perform at the long-awaited jazz festival.

“I have just landed from Singapore last night. There were several musicians who had also arrived and there was a special line at the immigration checkpoint for Java Jazz. I’m really proud to have seen this [special line] for Java Jazz at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport,” Sandiaga said.

“Java Jazz has become a brand IP [intellectual property] that is not only well-liked but also legendary for musicians, especially jazz musicians,” he said.

Sandiaga also said he hoped to see more festivals that feature both Indonesian and foreign artists in the future. He also wished to see such festivals in Indonesia’s five super-priority tourist destinations, namely Borobudur, Labuan Bajo, Danau Toba, Likupang, and Mandalika.

The 2023 BNI Java Jazz Festival starts today at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta, and will go on until Sunday.

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