Manokwari, West Papua (ANTARA) - The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment has urged the West Papua provincial government to carry out inter-regional cooperation to develop tourism potential there.

The inter-regional cooperation is a solution to optimize the development of tourism potential, the ministry's coordinator for tourism and creative economy, Evy Siburian, said in Manokwari on Wednesday.

For instance, the cooperation can be in the form of arranging a travel pattern from Raja Ampat, Southwest Papua, to Triton Kaimana Bay, West Papua, she informed.

"The local government must use the tourism potential well to attract tourists," Siburian said.

She explained that the 2023 Proud of Indonesia-made Products Movement (Gernas BBI) and the Indonesia Travel Movement (GBWI) in Manokwari were the right momentum to promote tourism destinations and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) products in West Papua.

Therefore, each local government in the province must collaborate in compiling a framework or road map for the development of tourist destinations, she said.

"For example, supporting infrastructure for tourism will be a new source of economic growth," she added.

According to her, an attractive tourism concept by the local government could increase investors' interest in investing in West Papua.

In addition to a solid concept, a conducive situation is also vital for realizing the tourism development plan.

"Investors will come to build hotels and other tourism infrastructure," she said.

The ministry will always provide support for local governments, but aspects of quality tourism need to be considered, she added.

For instance, a good tourism development concept usually includes sustainability, which is popular with foreign and domestic tourists.

On account of its beauty, the Triton Kaimana Bay, she said, has the potential to become an international standard tourist destination, just like Raja Ampat.

Thus, the development strategy requires synergy between regions.

"Bali's source of economic growth is tourism, West Papua has a lot of potential for it," she said.

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Translator: Fransiskus W, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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