"Biak Numfor District has the maritime and tourism potential in the Cendrawasih Bay region to become a tourist destination in the Eastern region, especially Papua Province," Head of the Work Team for the Directorate of Destination Development, Deputy for Destinations and Infrastructure for Region II of Kemenparekraf, Anastasia Manuela, stated in Biak Numfor, Thursday.
Manuela explained that in the national tourism program, there are 19 priority destinations, comprising Lake Toba, Bukittinggi, Bangka Belitung, Batam-Bintan, Ujung Kulon-Halimun-Pangandaran, Borobudur, Bromo-Tengger-Semeru, and Banyuwangi.
"As well as the tourism areas of Sambas-Singkawang, Derawan-Berau, Toraja-Makassar-Selayar, Bali, Lombok-Mandalika, Labuan Bajo, Wakatobi, Manado-Likupang, Morotai, Raja Ampat, and Biak-Cenderawasih Bay," Manuela remarked.
With Biak Numfor being included in the priority destination tourism program, Manuela is upbeat that local tourism development would receive support from indigenous communities.
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She said that the support of tourism programs for regions included in the national strategic program is through preparing skilled human resources in the tourism sector.
Meanwhile, Manuela remarked that another program also being prepared by the government through Kemenparekraf is providing support for tourism infrastructure in districts and cities.
"For Biak Numfor, this year, we are providing support for a technical guidance program for tourist villages in order to prepare technical personnel for managing tourist attractions," Manuela stated.
One of the national strategic programs for the national tourism sector in 2023 in Biak is the Cenderawasih Bay Sail that will take place on November 1-7, 2023.
Based on data, Kemenparekraf targets that in 2023, it will be able to bring 3.5 million-7.4 million foreign tourists to Indonesia.
Meanwhile, the target for domestic tourist visits is 1.2 billion-1.4 billion.
Related news: Minister Uno invited to attend 2023 Sail Teluk Cenderawasih opening
Translator: Muhsidin, Cindy Frishanti Octavia
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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