Jakarta, April 5 -- The tourism sector could serve as a potential national economic defense for Indonesia in response to external pressures resulting from trade tariffs imposed by the US government, Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana stated.

Wardhana made the remarks in response to US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariff policy on imported products from several countries, including Indonesia.

Wardhana noted in a statement on Saturday that in the face of high tariffs on exports, Indonesia can capitalize on the tourism sector's vast potential as a significant source of foreign exchange that is not subject to trade barriers.

"By attracting more foreign tourists, we can maintain the stability of the rupiah and foreign exchange...