The FIFA U-17 World Cup, held from November 10 to December 2, 2023, serves as a significant opportunity for the Surabaya City Government in East Java to introduce its tourist destinations to the world. The youth football tournament has the potential to contribute to the local economy by attracting football enthusiasts, both domestic and international, providing a platform to showcase the charm of Surabaya. Wiwiek Widayati, the Head of the Department of Culture, Youth, and Sports, as well as Tourism of Surabaya City, stated that the influx of national and international football fans to Surabaya is a golden opportunity to promote the city's attractions. She emphasised the importance of not overlooking this chance, as it could significantly boost Surabaya's economy. To maximise this opportunity, Wiwiek stated that her department is facilitating and encouraging travel agents and hotels to create attractive packages for both Indonesian citizens and international tourists (foreign tourists) attending the FIFA U-17 World Cup. This initiative aims not only to cater to the event but also to encourage longer stays in Surabaya.
Wiwiek emphasised that, besides tourist destinations, football enthusiasts visiting Surabaya can explore UMKM (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) industrial centres in the city, such as Surabaya Kriya Galeri. "This location showcases many products from MSMEs fostered by the Surabaya City Government, which are themed around the FIFA U-17 World Cup or other themes. Additionally, there is shopping tourism in the malls in Surabaya," explained Wiwiek. She believes that if the experiences of foreign tourists are shared on their respective social media, it will have a positive impact on the interest and potential arrival of other foreign tourists. Therefore, all service business actors in Surabaya need to maintain the quality of their services. According to data from the Surabaya City Department of Culture, Youth and Sports, as well as Tourism (Disbudporapar), the number of domestic tourists (wisnus) reached 12,613,840 people during 2022, a significant increase compared to 2021, which only reached 9,235,074 people. Foreign tourists in 2022 reached 455,226 people, or triple the number in 2021, which was 100,767 people. "For 2023, the data is still ongoing, but if we refer to 2021 and 2023, the upward trend will continue, especially with the numerous alternative events and tourist destinations that can be visited by tourists, including the FIFA U-17 World Cup, which is undoubtedly a special attraction," concluded Wiwiek Widayati.
