I will ask permission from the Ministry of Transportation to open direct (international) flights to Tanjung Pandan (the capital of Belitung district).
Belitung, Bangka Belitung (ANTARA) - Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Salahuddin Uno has said that he will explore opportunities to open direct international flights to Belitung district, Bangka Belitung Islands.

"I will ask permission from the Ministry of Transportation to open direct (international) flights to Tanjung Pandan (the capital of Belitung district)," Uno informed here on Friday.

The same day, he visited the Terong creative tourism village in Sijuk sub-district, Belitung.

The minister said that Belitung is among world-class tourism destinations so he expects international flight services to the district to be reopened.

He added that he will be ready to ask permission from the Transportation Ministry to reopen international flight routes to Belitung as long as there are world-class events held there.

The Belitung district government must work with the ministry to initiate international-level tourism activities related to sports, music, culture, history, and so on, Uno said.

"They (the events) can attract international tourists to come to Belitung, maybe four to five international activities (annually)," he added.

He revealed that the ministry is targeting two countries in terms of the origin of the international flight routes to Belitung—Malaysia and Singapore.

"We are targeting Kuala Lumpur and Singapore because previously, there were flight routes from these two countries as well; we are calculating the demand there; there will be opportunities if we prepare the activities," he explained.

In addition, the ministry will seek to increase the number of tourism activities in the area that can be upgraded to international activities.

"Tonight, there will be the Pesona Belitung Beach Festival that is listed in the 2023 Kharisma Event Nusantara (KEN). We will also curate other activities so that they can become international-class," he said.

KEN is a calendar of tourism and cultural art events throughout Indonesia compiled by the ministry, which aims to promote local tourism and creative economy potential.

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Translator: Kasmono, Kenzu
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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