PAPUAAROUND – The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Kemko Marves) empowers the Provincial Government of West Papua to carry out inter-regional cooperation to increase tourism potential in the region.
The Coordinator for Tourism and Creative Economy at the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Evy Marya Deswita Siburian, said in Manokwari that inter-regional cooperation is the solution to optimally develop tourism potential.
The inter-regional cooperation in question is for example compiling a travel pattern from Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, to Triton Kaimana Bay, West Papua.
He explained that the harvesting of the Proudly Made in Indonesia National Movement (GBBI) and the 2023 Indonesian Tourism Movement (GBWI) which were held in Manokwari, was the right momentum to promote MSME products and tourist destinations in West Papua.
For this reason, each local government must collaborate in developing a framework or road map for the development of tourist destinations to the fullest.
“For example infrastructure supporting tourism, because it will be a new source of economic growth,” said Evi.
He explained that the preparation of a good tourism concept by the regional government was able to increase investor interest in investing in West Papua.
Apart from the concept, the support of a conducive situation and regional condition is also the most important thing in order to realize the tourism development plan.
“Investors will come to build hotels and other tourism infrastructure,” explained Evy Siburian.
The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, he said, always provides support for local governments, but aspects of quality tourism need attention.
This relates to the concept of sustainable tourism development which is very popular with foreign and domestic tourists.
“The concept must be well prepared and of course the ministry will support it,” he said.
The beauty of the Triton Bay area in Kaimana Regency, said Evi, has the potential to become an international tourist destination just like Raja Ampat.
Thus, the development strategy requires inter-regional collaboration synergy so as to produce results as expected.
“Bali is the source of economic growth from tourism, West Papua has a lot of potential,” he said.
Telkom General Manager for the West Papua region, Amri Pary Usamahu, said that PT Telkom Indonesia fully supports the West Papua Provincial Government’s efforts to develop tourism by providing telecommunication access.
Currently, seven districts in West Papua have been connected to the telecommunication network, namely Manokwari, South Manokwari, and Arfak Mountains.
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