Will Indonesia’s Olympics Bid Ever Have a Tourism Upside?
Skift Take
Without doubt, Indonesia is one economy in Southeast Asia that has made much progress. But its 2032 bid for the Olympics still comes as a surprise. While the event may force the country to build much-needed infrastructure, it may also break its bank. With poverty still widespread, that would be a shame and could backfire.
Indonesia is bidding to host the 2032 Olympics, a move that raises the question whether it should given the financial and logistical burden it will wreak on the developing nation versus a goal of lifting tourism.
Japan, which is preparing for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics next year, faces a price tag of at least $25 billion to host the Games — nearly four times its original 2013 estimate. Hosting the Games in 2016 cost Brazil around $20 billion.
Indonesia’s bid was officially submitted this week to the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne by its ambassador to Switzerland, Muliaman D Hadad, according to state news agency Ankara.
The ambassador was quoted as saying the committee “has acknowledged Indonesia’s capabilities during the Asian Games and Asian Para Games of 2018.”
“We feel that is a strong foundation,” he said.
The event, held in Jakarta and Palembang, saw more than 17,000 athletes and officials from 45 Asian countries and was deemed as
