“Tourism village is a flagship program because it has been proven as being a ‘pandemic winner’. Amid the pandemic situation, the number of tourist visits increased quite significantly,” Uno noted in a written statement here on Friday.
According to the minister, in the last two years, the number of tourist visits to tourism villages increased by around 30 to 50 percent, especially in Central Java, East Java, and West Java.
He noted that the Tinalah tourism village in Kulonprogo District, Yogyakarta, experienced an increase in the number of tourists, from 3,300 in 2021 to six thousand in 2022.
Moreover, the Sembungan tourism village in Wonosobo District, Central Java, recorded an increase in the number of tourists, from 105 thousand in 2021 to 140 thousand in 2022.
In the Ngilngof tourism village, Southeast Maluku District, Maluku, the number of tourists rose, from 92 thousand in 2021 to 99 thousand in 2022. The income also increased by up to 100 percent.
Meanwhile, Tondok Bakaru tourism village, Mamasa District, West Sulawesi, recorded 11 thousand tourists throughout 2022. The number of tourists visiting the tourism village peaked during the Christmas and New Year holiday period, reaching 10 thousand in that period alone.
Uno stated that President Joko Widodo had specifically requested for a list of tourist villages, so that during each of his working visits to regions, he would take the time to visit tourist or thematic villages.
The minister expressed optimism that tourism villages would support the achievement of the target of 1.4 billion trips of domestic tourists this year.
Despite the limited budget, he invited regional heads to collaborate with his ministry, both in terms of support for activities and training and assistance.
Related news: Minister backs tourism village development with technical guidance
Related news: Tourism village improves welfare in Cupak
Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Raka Adji
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
Copyright © ANTARA 2023
